NCJ Number
241186
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 7-8 Dated: July/August 2012 Pages: 585-595
Date Published
August 2012
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between child physical abuse perpetrated by parents/caregivers and the occurrence of physical and mental health problems and risk-taking behavior among a sample of Swedish adolescents.
Abstract
Findings from the study include the following: having a history of child physical abuse (CPA) was associated with the occurrence of health problems among both boys and girls, with the association being stronger for those children who reported repeated episodes of CPA; having a history of experiencing parental intimate partner violence (IPV), being bullied, or being forced to engage in sexual acts was associated with all health problem variables for both boys and girls; and having a history of CPA was associated with risk-taking behavior for boys and girls compared to adolescents with no reported history of abuse. This study examined the relationship between CPA perpetrated by parents/caregivers and the occurrence of physical and mental health problems and risk-taking behavior among adolescents. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of Swedish adolescents (n= 7,262), in 2 different grade/age levels. The survey included questions on the occurrence of violence against the child, the existence of IPV, bullying, and forced sexual acts, and the occurrence of multiple episodes of CPA. The findings suggest that a history of CPA is a strong indicator of serious health problems and an increased potential for risk-taking behavior among adolescents, and that CPA should be treated as a serious public health problem. Study limitations and implications for policy are discussed. Tables and references