Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Early Abuse on Later Victimization Among High-Risk Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 214703
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 287-306
• Author(s): Kimberly A. Tyler Ph.D.; Katherine A. Johnson M.A.
• Date Published: June 2006
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using four waves of data, this longitudinal study of 730 high-risk adolescents examined the effects of early childhood abuse and poor parenting on adolescents' subsequent running away from home, delinquency, the early onset of sexual contacts, and physical victimization.

Abstract

Findings suggest the importance of identifying and intervening with families at high risk for child abuse and poor parenting, so that children can be prevented from running away from home. Running away increases the likelihood of spending time on the street, which leads to participation in high-risk behaviors and the risk of victimization. Thirty-six percent of the girls and 14 percent of the boys experienced sexual abuse as children, while 38 percent of the boys and 39 percent of the girls were physically abused as children. Both sexual and physical abuse and lower levels of parental monitoring and closeness in childhood all directly predicted running away from home at wave 1 (beginning of the study, 11-15 years old). Those who ran away from home at wave 1 were more likely to run away again 18 months later (wave 3), to have engaged in serious delinquent behavior, and to have been involved in early sexual contacts. Regarding victimization at wave 4 (36 months from baseline), those who had run away from home at wave 3 and who reported serious delinquent behavior were likely to have experienced higher rates of victimization (reported being intentionally physically hurt by someone in the past 12 months). The sample of 730 children and adolescents (59.5 percent female) were 11 to 15 years old at the beginning of the study. Data on the victimization variables were collected at baseline and at 12 months, 18 months, and 36 months later. The variables measured pertained to childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, parental monitoring, parental closeness, running away, delinquency, early sexual onset, and victimization. 2 tables, 2 figures, 67 references, and appended questions asked on childhood physical abuse parental monitoring, and serious delinquency