Comparing the level of social maturity, attachment styles, and emotion regulation strategies in normal adolescents and adolescents accused of sexual offenses crimes referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Khorasan Razavi Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc. in clinical psychology, Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran.

2 MSc. in general psychology, Farkhak Comprehensive Health Service Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.

3 MSc. in clinical psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.

4 Assistant professor of clinical psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

5 Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/JFMH.2025.88488.3249

Abstract

Introduction: This study compared social maturity, attachment styles, and emotion regulation strategies in normal adolescents and adolescents accused of sexual crimes.
 
Materials and Methods: The research sample of this descriptive causal-comparative study consisted of 32 adolescent boys accused of sexual crimes who referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Khorasan Razavi Province-Iran from April 2021 to March 2022. Thirty-two non-criminal adolescents were also selected as a comparison group using convenience sampling. Participants answered the Collins and Reed Attachment Styles Questionnaire, Rao Social Maturity Questionnaire, and Gross Emotion Regulation Strategies.
 
Results: The findings showed that normal adolescents compared to accused adolescents had higher scores in social maturity (274.21 vs. 132.53) and secure attachment style. In contrast, accused adolescents reported higher levels of avoidant (17.87 vs. 6. 68) and anxiety styles (18.65 vs. 6.65). The independent samples t-test results revealed significant differences in social maturity (t= 16.79, P< 0.001) and attachment styles, including closeness (t= 13.57, P< 0.001), dependence (t= -14.88, P< 0.001), and anxiety (t= -16.28, P< 0.001). Groups differed significantly in reappraisal strategies (t= 2.10, P= 0.039) but not in suppression strategies (t= -1.01, P= 0.316).
 
Conclusion: This study shows that adolescents accused of sexual offenses are vulnerable due to low social maturity and insecure attachment, and strengthening cognitive reappraisal skills can play an important role in emotion regulation and preventing risky behaviors.

Keywords

References

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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 27, Issue 6
November and December 2025
Pages 381-388

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