Table 1 Group differences in baseline demographic factors, mental health and history of offending
Characteristic | Total (N = 354) | Welfare Youth (N = 252) | Juvenile Justice Youth (N = 102) | Univariate test of difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demographic factors | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Gender [% male (n)] | 63.0% (223) | 53.2% (134) | 87.3% (89) | χ2(1) = 36.18 | *** |
 Age mean (SD) | 16.02 (1.64) | 15.8 (1.55) | 16.6 (1.76) | t(320) = -3.95 | *** |
 Nationality [% Swiss (n)] | 83.1% (294) | 85.7% (216) | 76.5% (78) | χ2(1) = 4.41 | * |
 Born in Switzerland [% yes (n)] | 76.0% (269) | 77.8% (196) | 71.6% (73) | χ2(1) = 1.53 | n.s |
Language region of placement |  |  |  | χ2(2) = 8.81 | ** |
 German [% (n)] | 73.2% (259) | 72.6% (183) | 74.5% (76) |  |  |
 French [% (n)] | 21.5% (76) | 19.8% (50) | 25.5% (26) |  |  |
 Italian [% (n)] | 5.4% (19) | 7.5% (19) | 0.0% (0) |  |  |
Age at beginning of current placement mean (SD) | 14.95 (1.74) | 14.62 (1.72) | 15.76 (1.51) | t(350) = -5.89 | *** |
Planned duration of current placement mean (SD) | 27.32 21.4 | 28.05 (22.65) | 25.51 (17.93) | t(350) = 1.01 | n.s |
Type of Institution |  |  |  | χ2(3) = 19.32 | *** |
 Transitional Placement | 11.9% (42) | 15.7% (16) | 10.3% (26) |  |  |
 Group home with school or trade program | 58.8% (208) | 53.6% (135) | 71.6% (73) |  |  |
 Group home without internal educational program | 25.7% (91) | 31.7% (80) | 10.8% (11) |  |  |
 Other | 3.7% (13) | 4.4% (11) | 2.0% (2) |  |  |
Institutionalization History | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Previous residential or foster placement [% yes (n)] | 46.3% (161) | 45.2% (112) | 49.0% (49) | χ2(1) = 0.42 | n.s |
 Age at first placement mean (SD) | 13.46 (3.45) | 12.99 (3.67) | 14.62 (2.51) | t(269.86) = -4.81 | *** |
 Number of previous placements mean (SD) | 0.97 (1.38) | 0.93 (1.30) | 1.09 (1.56) | t(346) = -0.10 | n.s |
Mental health problems | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Alcohol and drug use mean (SD) | 2.87 (2.77) | 2.54 (2.70) | 3.76 (2.80) | t(320) = -3.55 | *** |
 Angry-irritable mean (SD) | 4.66 (2.68) | 4.66 (2.61) | 4.67 (2.87) | t(320) = -0.02 | n.s |
 Depressed-anxious mean (SD) | 3.04 (2.39) | 3.14 (2.50) | 2.75 (2.04) | t(186.61) = 1.46 | n.s |
 Suicide ideation mean (SD) | 2.08 (1.70) | 2.17 (1.76) | 1.82 (1.51) | t(172.39) = 2.24 | n.s |
 More than one elevated MAYSI-2 scale [% yes (n)] | 80.1% (258) | 80.4% (189) | 79.3% (69) | χ2(1) = 0.50 | n.s |
Violence Exposure and Trauma | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Traumatic Experience [% yes (n)] | 84.8% (217) | 84.5% (158) | 85.5% (59) | χ2(1) = 0.40 | n.s |
 Traumatic experiences mean (SD) | 2.4 (1.47) | 2.38 (1.42) | 2.46 (1.61) | t(320) = -0.42 | n.s |
 Direct victimization mean (SD) | 2.04 (1.98) | 2.11 (2.08) | 1.85 (1.66) | t(188.71) = 1.15 | n.s |
Self-reported previous delinquency | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 General delinquency mean (SD) | 8.02 (7.07) | 7.04 (6.64) | 10.65 (7.55) | t(316) = -4.15 | *** |
 Violent delinquency mean (SD) | 1.53 (1.83) | 1.27 (1.62) | 2.23 (2.18) | t(121.19) = -3.74 | *** |
 Delinquency severity mean (SD) | 2.50 (1.37) | 2.30 (1.39) | 3.07 (1.15) | t(183.04) = -5.03 | *** |
Previous convictions | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Criminal conviction [% yes (n)] | 47.5% (168) | 36.9% (93) | 73.5% (75) | χ2(1) = 40.75 | *** |
 Age at first conviction mean (SD) | 13.93 (1.78) | 13.91 (1.83) | 13.95 (1.73) | t(166) = -0.15 | n.s |
 Violent crime [% yes (n)] | 17.5% (62) | 8.7% (22) | 39.2% (40) | χ2(1) = 46.71 | *** |
 Non-violent crime [% yes (n)] | 44.4% (157) | 34.5% (87) | 68.6% (70) | χ2(1) = 34.22 | *** |