Gender differences in intervention effects on delinquency for justice-involved youth: A preliminary meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate whether psychosocial interventions for justice-involved youth are equally effective at reducing delinquent behavior for males and females.

Methods

We used meta-analysis to test for gender differences in intervention effects for justice-involved youth, including 10 randomized controlled trials that permitted assessment of gender-specific effect sizes.

Results

Findings show interventions were ineffective at reducing delinquency overall d = -0.006, p = .921. Moreover, there was no significant difference in recidivism outcomes by gender, Q = .071, p = .790; psychosocial interventions for justice-involved youth yielded null effects for males, d = 0.006, p = .933, and females, d = –.027, p = .785.

Conclusions

This study is the first meta-analysis focused on gender differences in intervention effects for justice-involved youth. Our findings suggest a need for further study to better understand what works for reducing recidivism among juvenile justice-involved males and females.