A structural model of causal influence between aggression and psychological traits: Survey of female correctional facility in Japan

The purpose of this study was to survey and clarify the characteristics of self-esteem, aggressiveness, AD/HD symptoms, and ACE in inmates of a female juvenile correctional facility and age- and gender-matched controls, analyze relationships among factors, and establish a causal model. The subjects were 41 juvenile (all females) admitted to “A” female juvenile correctional facility, aged 15–18. Average students at an average high school were used as the control group. The inmate group showed markedly lower levels of self-esteem but no difference in aggressiveness compared with the control group. Results of AD/HD youth self report suggested marked AD/HD symptoms in the inmate group even in the primary school period. Multidimensional factors correlated with their aggression. There was a possibility that low self-esteem, a high AD/HD-YSR score, and high ACE score increase aggressiveness.