Journal of International Psychiatry

Objective: To explore the self-esteem level of female violent crime and its related factors. Method: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale(UPPS), the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale (IDA), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) was used to evaluate 61 female violent criminals (study group) and 71 other types of female prisoners matched with age and education level (control group). Result: the RSES scores of the study group was significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05); The total scores of UPPS, TAS and MSI-BPD in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05); The scores of RSES were Significantly negatively correlated with the total scores of IDA, TAS and MSI-BPD (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Regression analysis showed that RSES had a good predictive effect on female violent crime (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with other types of crime, female violent criminals show lower self-esteem, higher impulsiveness, higher alexithymia and higher borderline personality disorder. The self-esteem level of female violent criminals is negatively correlated with some related factors. Self-esteem can predict female violent crime.

Female prisoners; Violent crime; Self-esteem