The aim of the present study was to investigate what factors are predictive of behavioural and emotional dysfunction in adolescence. A sample of 60 young people accommodated under a welfare or youth custody service order in a UK secure children’s home between 2016 and 2018 was used. Data regarding young people’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) history, scores on standard assessments and factors thought to indicate behavioural and emotional dysfunction were collected from file information. Correlations and regression models were used to analyse the data. Analyses found that young people in this setting had been exposed to more ACEs than the general population. Furthermore, signs of behavioural and emotional dysfunction as a result of exposure to ACE’s appeared to be present from early adolescence. It was found that exposure to verbal and sexual abuse were the greatest predictors of involvement in risk incidents. The young person’s substance misuse habits were the best predictor of the length of stay in the secure children’s home. These findings may have policy implications and highlight the need for early interventions with young people exposed to ACE’s.

本研究的目的是调查哪些因素可以预测青春期的行为和情绪功能障碍。使用了 2016 年至 2018 年期间在英国安全儿童之家根据福利或青年监护服务令收容的 60 名年轻人的样本。从文件信息中收集了有关年轻人的不良童年经历 (ACE) 历史、标准评估分数以及被认为表明行为和情绪功能障碍的因素的数据。相关性和回归模型用于分析数据。分析发现，与一般人群相比，这种情况下的年轻人接触到更多的 ACE。此外，由于暴露于 ACE 导致的行为和情绪功能障碍的迹象似乎从青春期早期就出现了。研究发现，语言和性虐待的暴露是参与风险事件的最大预测因素。年轻人的物质滥用习惯是在安全儿童之家逗留时间的最佳预测指标。这些发现可能具有政策含义，并强调需要对接触 ACE 的年轻人进行早期干预。