Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to address gaps in existing research by examining the relationship between academic performance and attention problems with juvenile firesetting. Two datasets from the Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) were used. The Factor Analysis Dataset (N = 975) was utilized and results indicated that adolescents who report lower academic performance are more likely to set fires. Additionally, adolescents who report a poor attitude toward school are even more likely to set fires. Results also indicated that attention problems are predictive of self-reported firesetting. The National Survey Dataset (N = 1158) was analyzed to determine the prevalence of firesetting in a normative sample and also examine whether these children reported higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. It was found that 4.5% of adolescents in the generalized sample reported firesetting. Firesetters reported more internalizing, externalizing, and total problems than their non-firesetting peers. In this normative sample, firesetters were found to have lower academic performance and more attention problems. Limitations include the low overall number of firesetters in each dataset (Factor Analysis n = 123 and National Survey n = 53) and the inclusion of children who had been referred for services in the Factor Analysis Dataset.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-9-2013
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060
Repository Citation
Howell Bowling, Carrie; Merrick, Joav; and Omar, Hatim A., "Self-Reported Juvenile Firesetting: Results from Two National Survey Datasets" (2013). Pediatrics Faculty Publications. 47.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pediatrics_facpub/47
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Frontiers in Public Health, v. 1, article 60, p. 1-13.
© 2013 Howell Bowling, Merrick and Omar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.