The relationship between birth order and frequency of criminal record with stress and attention deficit / hyperactivity symptoms in thieves

The birth order and the frequency of criminal record can be factors affecting on the stress and attention deficit / hyperactivity of the thieves.

The present study evaluates the stress and attention deficit / hyperactivity symptoms in a group of thieves in terms of birth order and frequency of criminal record.

This research was a causal comparative study in which 100 individuals commited theft who in the years 2015-2016 in Rasht central prison were punished by non-random targeted sampling were selected. Samples by the legal and demographic variables inventory, the stress scale, Conners’ adult attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder rating scale-self-report-screening version, and the Wender Utah rating scale were studied and data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and univariate analysis of variance.

With the exception of the relationship between birth order with Conners’ attention deficit and the frequency of criminal record with Conners’ hyperactivity impulsivity (P>0.05), other components of Conners’ attention deficit hyperactivity and Wender childhood attention deficit hyperactivity in second and third children, and individuals with two, three or more criminal records is more than the first born and people with one criminal record (P<0.05). Meanwhile, none of these groups showed a difference in stress level (P>0.05).

The birth order and the frequency of criminal record can have a significant relationship with the representation of attention deficit / hyperactivity symptoms of thieves. Therefore, monitoring, evaluation and psychological intervention of these individuals with the aim of reducing impulsive behaviors will be recommended.