NCJ Number
99139
Date Published
1984
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Within the context of research on adolescent abuse, this monograph advances eight hypotheses concerning the epidemiology and etiology of abuse and discusses the implications for policy and service delivery.
Abstract
The first hypothesis posits that the incidence of adolescent maltreatment equals or exceeds that of child maltreatment. The second holds that such maltreatment includes all forms of abuse and neglect, with sexual and psychological abuse most prevalent. The third suggests that while the incidence of abuse of females increases with age, that of males decreases. The fourth hypothesis states that in some cases, abuse is merely a continuation of patterns from childhood, while in others, it reflects the family's inability to meet the challenges of adolescence. The fifth suggests that the large social class differences found in families at risk of child abuse are absent among families at risk of adolescent abuse. That families at risk of adolescent abuse are more likely to contain stepparents is the basis for the next hypothesis, and the final hypothesis suggests that adolescents at risk of maltreatment are less socially competent and exhibit more developmental problems than their peers. Overall, these hypotheses, based on research findings, suggest that maltreatment is more likely to arise when troubled youth live within high-risk families. Consequently, efforts should be aimed at identifying risk factors related to adjustment in adolescence. Parent education programs should direct parents toward more adaptive patterns of reciprocal negotiation and appropriate use of parental authority. Included are 25 references.