Topic
Fire-setting
About: Fire-setting is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7 publications have been published within this topic receiving 143 citations.
Papers
Journal Article•
01 Jul 2006-Centre for Health Research; Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
TL;DR: In this paper, a large sample of 4- to 9-year-old children were assessed using a seven-item fire interest history screen with other measures of antisocial behaviour, children's mental health, parenting style and quality and parenting stress.
Abstract: Child and adolescent fire setting is associated with a broad pattern of antisocial behaviour and is associated with huge costs to the Australian community. Assessment and treatment options have principally been tested in clinically referred or incarcerated children and adolescents. Little information is available about fire setting in normal populations and thus opportunities for screening and early intervention are not well developed. In this study, a large sample of 4- to 9-year-old children were assessed using a seven-item fire interest history screen with other measures of antisocial behaviour, children's mental health, parenting style and quality and parenting stress. These were followed-up with parent and teacher report measures and a diagnostic interview at 12 months. The fire history screening tool demonstrated utility in screening for early signs of fire setting. Prevalences of fire interest, and match- and fire-play were low overall but consistently higher for boys than for girls across ages. As expected, fire setting was associated with parental stress and a range of antisocial behaviours including conduct problems, hyperactivity, cruelty to animals and thrill-seeking temperament. In girls, it was also associated with anxiety/depression problems. Fire behaviours in children are related to broader psychopathology and family stress, and can be effectively identified in young children using a brief screening measure.
55 citations
TL;DR: Fire behaviours in children are related to broader psychopathology and family stress, and can be effectively identified in young children using a brief screening measure.
Abstract: Objective: Child and adolescent fire setting is associated with a broad pattern of antisocial behaviour and is associated with huge costs to the Australian community. Assessment and treatment options have principally been tested in clinically referred or incarcerated children and adolescents. Little information is available about fire setting in normal populations and thus opportunities for screening and early intervention are not well developed.Method: In this study, a large sample of 4- to 9-year-old children were assessed using a seven-item fire interest history screen with other measures of antisocial behaviour, children's mental health, parenting style and quality and parenting stress. These were followed-up with parent and teacher report measures and a diagnostic interview at 12 months.Results: The fire history screening tool demonstrated utility in screening for early signs of fire setting. Prevalences of fire interest, and match- and fire-play were low overall but consistently higher for boys than...
46 citations
TL;DR: This article identified potential predictors of recidivism in children and adolescents who set fires and found that previous involvement in fire-setting behaviour was the best single predictor of fire-setters' recidivistic behaviour.
Abstract: Fires set by young people account for a large proportion of fire-related public property damage and deaths. Law enforcement and mental health professionals alike seek ways to prevent fire-setters from repeating their criminal behaviour. This article presents a comprehensive review of empirical studies of fire-setting recidivism. The purpose of this study was to identify potential predictors of recidivism in children and adolescents who set fires. Six articles and two dissertation abstracts were selected for systematic review according to specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Previous involvement in fire-setting behaviour was found to be the best single predictor of recidivistic fire-setting. In addition, recidivists were noted to have greater levels of interest in fire and fire-related activities, displayed more covert antisocial behaviours, and were more likely to be male and older than non-recidivists. Recidivists also reported poorer social skills and higher levels of family dysfunction than ...
38 citations
TL;DR: Prevalent comorbidity suggests interventions should focus on treating psychopathology before commencing offence-specific arson therapies, highlighting the need for thorough history taking.
Abstract: Background Although many with intellectual disability come to the attention of services for fire setting, research in this area is scarce, which poses challenges for management.Method In this paper we examined those with a fire-setting history (n = 30), identified from a sample of 138 patients treated in a UK forensic intellectual disability service. Those with a fire-setting history were compared to those without this history on various clinical, forensic, and treatment outcome variables.Results Fire-setting was associated with significant psychopathology, including psychosis and personality disorders. Only half of the fire setters had a formal arson conviction. Fire setters were more likely to have a violence conviction and criminal sections/restriction orders.Conclusions Half of those with fire-setting histories did not have formal arson convictions, highlighting the need for thorough history taking. Prevalent comorbidity suggests interventions should focus on treating psychopathology before co...
29 citations
1 Jan 2002
TL;DR: Details of children's fire setting incidents provide an understanding of the circumstances under which such incidents take place, including their antecedents and consequences, and thereby provide the practitioner with information that may be helpful to plan interventions.
Abstract: Publisher Summary The scope of the juvenile fire problem in a country has been understood by the number of fires reported to the fire department. Prevalence rates for various fire-related behaviors are reported in a few studies based on the administration of self-report surveys or assessment interviews to children and youth. A large community survey of children and young adolescents (ages 6-14) conducted in the public schools, found lifetime and one-year prevalence rates of 38% and 14% for fireplay, respectively. The chapter provides an overview of the research studies on the fire problem. The rates provided in the chapter convey heightened involvement with fire in the two sets of samples, albeit based on different definitions and assessment methods or items. At the same time, newer studies are needed that examine different forms of fire involvement and incorporate samples with community cases, older samples, and high-risk cases. Details of children's fire setting incidents provide an understanding of the circumstances under which such incidents take place, including their antecedents and consequences, and thereby provide the practitioner with information that may be helpful to plan interventions.
15 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |