Behavioral sequelae of physical and/or sexual abuse in adolescents

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Abstract

In a survey of 500 admissions to a short-term residential chemical dependency treatment center for adolescents (ages 12 to 18), 150 adolescents (30%) had been identified as victims of physical and/or sexual abuse. While the abused group had a higher incidence of prior social service and mental health intervention, extraordinarily 68% of these abuse cases had not been reported by children, family, or interviewers prior to the adolescents having entered the chemical dependency residential treatment facility. This chemically dependent, previously abused group was differentiated from a comparison group of nonabused, chemically dependent adolescents, and a second 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.

Résumé

L'étude a porté sur 500 admissions à une institution résidentielle pour traiter des adolescents toxicomanes âges de 12 à 18 ans: Le 30% soit 150 adolescents ont reconnu avoir été victimes avant leur admission à ce centre de sévices physiques ou sexuels ou les deux. Ce groupe particulier de 150 avait eu recours plus souvent que les autres à des services sociaux et de santé mentale. Cependant le 68% d'entre eux ne s'étaient pas plaint de sévices ni à leurs familles ni à ceux qui les avaient interrogés. Ce groupe de toxicomanes ayant subi des sévices a été comparé à un groupe d'autres adolescents toxicomanes non victimes de sévices et enfinà un groupe d'adolescents non toxicomanes et non victimes de sévices. De cette comparaison il est ressorti que les adolescents toxicomanes qui avaient été maltraités physiquement ou sexuellement se présentaient avec une tendance plus grande à avoir des comportements provocateurs, à faire des fugues, à commettre des actes délictueux ou à avoir des relations sexuelles avec des partenaires multiples.

Resumen

En un examen de 500 admisiones a un eentro para el tratamiento residencial de corto plazo de adolescentes (de 12 a 18 an̄os de edad) químicamente dependientes (alcohol/drogas), 150 adolescentes (30%) fueron identifícados como víctimas del abuso físico/sexual. Mientras que el grupo abusado había experimentado una incidencia mayor de intervención por parte de los servicios sociales y de salud mental, extraordinariamente, 68% de los casos de abuso no habian sido reportados anteriormente a la admision al centro ni por los niños, las familias o los interviuadores. Este grupo de adolescentes químicamente dependientes y previamentes abusados fué comparado con un grupo de adolescentes químicamente dependientes y no abusados y un grupo de adolescentes ni químicamente dependientes ni abusados. Los resultados indicaron una incidencia mayor del actuar (acting out), fugitivos, problemas con la ley y promiscuidad sexual en el grupo abusado.

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Excerpts from this paper were presented at the 11th International Congress of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, July 23, 1986, Pa

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