Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2024 Sep 2;32(5):671-682. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2024.2346717. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
In New Zealand, adolescents contribute to almost half of property damage caused by fire. Data on firesetting location (at-home or away-from-home) of adolescents (aged 12-18 years), referred to a fire-awareness intervention programme (N = 2696), were analysed using chi-square and logistic regression. Characteristics of the ‘at-home’ group (93% male; mean age 13.5 years) included setting a fire alone; a history of misusing fire; a history of a psychiatric diagnosis; no history of offending; firesetting motivated by experimentation; and identifying as non-Māori/non-Pacific. Conversely, the ‘away-from-home’ group (88% male, M age = 13.8 years) were predicted by firesetting with peers; this being their first misuse of fire; negative feelings (fear, shame) after the fire; an offending history; firesetting motivated by peer pressure; and identifying as Māori or Pacific. Finding distinct subgroups within the adolescent firesetting population enhances opportunities to appropriately target interventions.
PMID:41001399 | PMC:PMC12459193 | DOI:10.1080/13218719.2024.2346717
