Boonmann, CyrilGrisso, ThomasGuy, Laura S.Colins, Olivier F.Mulder, Eva A.Vahl, P.Jansen, Lucres M. C.Doreleijers, Theo A. HVermeiren, Robert R. J. M.2022-08-232022-08-232016-11-012017-04-13Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2016 Nov 1;10:45. eCollection 2016. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-016-0127-2">Link to article on publisher's site</a>1753-2000 (Linking)10.1186/s13034-016-0127-227822305https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/46243OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and mental health problems in juveniles who sexually offended (JSOs) over and above general offending behavior. METHODS: A sample of 44 JSOs incarcerated in two juvenile detention centers in the Netherlands between May 2008 and March 2014 were examined for childhood abuse history (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form) and mental health problems (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2). Furthermore, the connection between childhood abuse and mental health problems in JSOs was compared to a sample of 44 propensity score matched juveniles who offended non-sexually (non-JSOs). RESULTS: In JSOs, sexual abuse was related to anger problems, suicidal ideation, and thought disturbance. These associations were significantly stronger in JSOs than in non-JSOs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the relationship between childhood abuse and both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems is of more salience for understanding sexual offending than non-sexual offending, and should, therefore, be an important focus in the assessment and treatment of JSOs.en-US© The Author(s).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Childhood sexual abuseMAYSI-2Mental health problemsSexual offending juvenilesChild PsychologyCriminologyJuvenile LawMental and Social HealthPediatricsPsychiatryPsychiatry and PsychologyJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1784&amp;context=psych_pp&amp;unstamped=1https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/psych_pp/78010015280psych_pp/780