Physical Abuse, Sexual Victimization and Illicit Drug Use - A Structural Analysis Among High Risk Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 105052
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1987) Pages: 13-34
• Author(s): R Dembo; M Dertke; L La Voie; S Borders; M Washburn; J Schmeidler
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A structural model specifying the influence of child physical and sexual-abuse variables on youths' illicit drug use, directly and as mediated by self-derogation, was tested among male and female juvenile detainees.

Abstract

Data were obtained from a systematically selected cohort of 145 detainees housed at a State-operated, regional facility in a Southeastern State for at least 96 hours between mid-June and the end of September 1984. The youths participated in voluntary interviews. The interview form contained questions that measured subjects' physical abuse, sexual victimization, self-derogation, and illicit drug use. For both genders, sexual victimization had a primarily direct effect on drug use. The indirect effect of physical abuse on drug use was mediated by self-derogation. Further analysis indicated race did not affect the results. Youths' physical abuse and sexual victimization experiences merit serious consideration among the influences on youth to deviate from conventional norms. 1 table and 78 references. (Author abstract modified)