Correlations among self‐esteem, aggression, adverse childhood experiences and depression in inmates of a female juvenile correctional facility in Japan

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the following hypothesis: (i) Self‐esteem and aggressiveness, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and a depressive tendency interact with each other. (ii) The subjects show a strong depressive tendency, and each of the other factors exerts a main effect on, and interacts with, the depressive tendency. Method: The subjects were 91 juveniles (all female) admitted to a female juvenile correctional facility between November 2005 and December 2006. They were aged 15–19 years, with a mean age of 17.0 (SD = 1.18) years. Self‐esteem scale, aggression scale, ACE questionnaire, and depression scale were conducted. Results: Significant main effects (R2 = 0.50, P