Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Appiah-Kubi, Jamal

Abstract

Black young men are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, yet limited research has examined how severe custody experiences are related to mental health in adulthood. This study will examine how the severity of juvenile custody experiences is related to adult mental health outcomes among Black men who have been released from custody for at least two years. Being able to understand these long-term outcomes is important for addressing disparities in mental health and access to care. This research will utilize the principles of trauma theory and will use a quantitative cross-sectional design. The study will use a purposive snowball sampling technique to identify participants through community-based organizations and peer networks. All data will be collected through a structured survey that measures custody severity, measures of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, substance use, and access to trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participant characteristics, and multiple regression analysis will be conducted to examine the relationship between custody severity, access to care, and adult mental health outcomes while controlling for key demographic variables. Findings will help increase understanding of long-term mental health outcomes after juvenile custody and will provide guidance for social work practice by informing trauma-informed and culturally responsive services for Black men impacted by the juvenile justice system.

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