Scottish Government Health Directorates Chief Scientist Office
Understanding and preventing male youth violence in Scotland: Exploring the feasibility of data linkage and a parenting programme in Young Offenders Institution Polmont Researchers Prof. Peter D Donnelly, Dr Damien J Williams Prof. Paul Boyle, Prof. Alastair Leyland, Ms Erica Nicholls, Dr Frank Popham
development of a parenting program for delivery in YOI Polmont. The surveys and interviews were analysed (using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis) according to pre-determined themes.
Background and aims Violence is an important Public Health problem and a contributing factor in sustaining Scotland’s health inequalities. In order to develop violence prevention efforts it is necessary to understand the antecedents to violent behaviour. Moreover, it has been suggested that improving the early year’s environment and addressing parenting among atriskindividuals may also assist in breaking the cycle of violence thereby preventing violence in the current and future generations. The broad aims of this proof of concept study were to: 1. explore the feasibility ofdeveloping a follow-up study of a cohort of violent young males in Scotland and 2. explorethe feasibility and acceptability ofa parenting programme for implementation in Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Polmont.
Key Results The study has identified the potential for accessing and linking a variety of relevant records/datafor a cohort of violent young men. It has uncovered the often chaoticlives of the young men in Polmont YOI and identified that young men who are parents or expectant parents in YOI Polmont were interested in acquiring parenting skills, but only while in prison.
Project Outline/Methodology The cohort of violent young men of interest included gang-related youths engaged withthe Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) and offenders in YOI Polmont. A variety of activities were undertaken to achieve each of the broad aims of the proof ofconcept study: 1a. Discussions with Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and other agencies (e.g. NHS Information Services Division) were undertaken regarding the potential to access and link relevant records for the target group of young men. 1b. Discussions with CIRV team members were undertaken regarding access to their client group and database. 1c. Discussions with SPS, YOI Polmont, and other agencies that work with the incarcerated young men to identifywhat information is collected about themand how it is collected. 2a. Discussions with SPS and YOI Polmont along with with REACT (Relationship Education and Counselling Team) and Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme) explored the delivery of a parenting programme with violent young men. 2b. An institution-wide survey (approx. 800 young men) and guided interviews with 50 young men in YOI Polmont explored their experiences of being parented, perceptions of parenting, and ideas for the
What does this study add to the field? The study has demonstrated thatthere ispotential to apply data linkage techniques to the understanding of violence and thedevelopment and evaluation of violenceprevention efforts. Further, through a consideration of the perspectives of the young men, the study has identified how it may be possible to develop a parenting intervention that more effectively suits their needs.
Conclusions The development of a long-term follow-up study of violent young males in Scotland is feasible, given the potential to access and link relevant records and supplementary primary data. In addition, as a means to break the cycle of violence, there is support for the development of a bespoke parenting programme for delivery inYOI Polmont, thereby seizing the window of opportunity presented by the young men.
Implications for Practice or Policy In addition to the benefits of developing a better understanding of violence through a long-term follow-up study, such a study would offerthe opportunity to evaluate the longer-term effect of prison-based interventions. Moreover, the current study has identified a need for parenting support in violent youths in YOI Polmont. Where to next? The development of the long-term follow-up study will be further explored in conjunction with SPS. Moreover, the outcomes of the study will be utilised to develop a parenting intervention appropriate for implementation with young offenders. Further details from: Prof. Peter D. Donnelly and Dr. Damien Williams{pdd21,djw11}@st-andrews.ac.uk
Chief Scientist Office, St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG Tel:0131 244 2248
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