NCJ Number
153809
Date Published
1991
Length
81 pages
Annotation
The Minnesota Student Survey conducted in 1991 focused on special adolescent populations in Alternative Schools and Area Learning Centers, Correction and Detention Centers, and Residential Treatment Centers.
Abstract
The study focused on the six environmental stressors: family alcohol problems, family drug problems, experience or witness of physical abuse, and intrafamilial or extrafamilial sexual abuse. The survey results showed that students in Alternative Schools or Area Learning Centers were three times as likely as regular students to report at least three such problems, while students in Correction and Detention Centers or Residential Treatment Centers were six times as likely to report such problems. A history of physical or sexual abuse doubled the incidence of self-inflicted injury or suicide attempt among this population, and predicted further victimization and sexually aggressive behavior. Students in these special populations were much more likely than regular students to engage in daily alcohol or other drug use, to smoke cigarettes, to use intravenous drugs, and to have been pregnant. 11 references