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HYPERTENSION, BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

NCJ Number
54022
Journal
SOUTHERN MEDICAL JOURNAL Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 160-164
Author(s)
A R MAWSON
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE POSSIBLE ROLES OF HYPERTENSION AND BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY AS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY FACTORS. THESE PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND SOCIAL STRESS MIGHT MAKE JUVENILES MORE AGGRESSIVE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF HYPERTENSION AND/OR BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN THE CAUSATION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED DIRECTLY, THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT (A) AN EXCESS PREVALENCE OF BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IS THE ASPECT OF CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONING WHICH CHARACTERIZES ADOLESCENTS AND (B) INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. FEMALES APPEAR TO BE MORE PRONE TO HYPERTENSION THAN MALES, WHEREAS CRIME IS COMMITTED LARGELY BY MALES. RECECNT SURVEYS INDICATE THAT THE BLOOD PRESSURES OF ADOLESCENT MALES EXCEED THOSE OF FEMALES, AND THOSE OF BLACK ADOLESCENT MALES EXCEED THOSE OF WHITE ADOLESCENT MALES. HYPERTENSION TENDS TO INCREASE WITH AGE, WHEREAS THE TENDENCY TOWARD CRIMINALITY DECREASES WITH AGE. OFFICIAL CRIMINAL STATISTICS REVEAL A MARKED INCREASE IN THE RATE OF CONVICTIONS OF MALES IN THEIR EARLY AND MIDDLE TEENS, WHICH IS THE TIME OF PUBERTY AND THE ADOLESCENT GROWTH SPURT. IT IS ONE ASPECT OF THE GENERAL CHANGE IN GROWTH RATE AND METABOLISM OCCURRING AT PUBERTY. THESE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES, TOGETHER WITH THE SIMULTANEOUS ADDITION OF VARIOUS SOCIAL STRESSES, MAY LOWER THE THRESHOLD FOR AGGRESSION AND IMPULSIVITY, THUS PLACING THE INDIVIDUAL AT GREATER RISK OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF BEHAVIORS COLLECTIVELY TERMED 'DELINQUENT.' REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)