Adolescent Girls' Offending and Health-Risking Sexual Behavior: The Predictive Role of Trauma

• NCJ Number: 216199
• Journal: Child Maltreatment Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2006 Pages: 346-353
• Author(s): Dana K. Smith; Leslie D. Leve; Patricia Chamberlain
• Date Published: November 2006
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 MH54257; R01 DA15208; P20 DA17592
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the effectiveness of using diagnostic and experiential trauma measures for identifying girls at greatest risk for delinquency and health-risking sexual behavior.

Abstract

This study supports findings from previous studies in showing that childhood maltreatment is linked to increased rates of delinquency, health-risking sexual behavior, and other problems, such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and personality disorders. The girls self-reported high rates of sexual abuse when they were younger, as well as physical abuse; 93 percent of the girls had experienced physical or sexual abuse. Given that the average age of the girls in the study was 15 years old, the risks for these girls to contract sexually transmitted infections and have an early pregnancy were high. The findings suggest the possibility that measuring girls' traumatic experiences is an effective way of identifying those who are at greatest risk for negative behavioral outcomes. The focus of intervention should be therapy that addresses the specific aspects of the trauma they have experienced. Future research should test these findings and examine developmental models on the effects of early trauma for both girls and boys by using mediation models and longitudinal study designs. The sample consisted of 88 adolescent girls who were referred to treatment for chronic conduct problems after being placed by a court in out-of-home care. The girls and their caregivers participated in an assessment prior to placement in out-of-home care. Data-collection methods consisted of interviews with the girls and caregivers, an interview with the caseworker, questionnaires for the girl and caregiver, and the collection of data from juvenile court records. Assessments focused on youth and family demographics, youth behaviors, and youth mental health. 2 tables and 70 references