Behavioral Sequelae of Physical and/or Sexual Abuse in Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 111892
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (1988) Pages: 181-188
• Author(s): A A Cavaiola; M Schiff
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Excerpts from this paper were presented at the 11th International Congress of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, July 23, 1986, Paris, France.

Annotation

This article discusses a study of 500 patients, ages 12 to 18, admitted to an 8-week residential adolescent chemical dependency treatment program which identified 150 cases of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Abstract

It was hypothesized that abused, chemically dependent adolescents would demonstrate increased incidents of self-abuse, acting out, running away, more frequent out of home placements, and other behavioral sequelae. While the abused group had a higher incidence of prior social service and mental health intervention, 68 percent of these abuse cases had not been reported by children, family, or interviewers prior to the adolescents admission to the chemical dependency residential treatment facility. This chemically dependent previously abused group was differentiated from a comparison group of nonabused nonchemically dependent adolescents. Results indicated a higher incidence of acting out behavior, runaways, legal involvement, and sexual promiscuity within the abused group. Tabular data and 13 references. (Author abstract modified)