Effect of child abuse and neglect on risk behaviors in inner-city minority female adolescents and young adults. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diaz, Angela; Shankar, Viswanathan; Nucci-Sack, Anne; Linares, Lourdes Oriana; Salandy, Anthony; Strickler, Howard D.; Burk, Robert D.; Schlecht, Nicolas F.
• Is Part Of: Child abuse & neglect. Volume 101(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- CES-D Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression -- CTQ Childhood Trauma Questionnaire -- CI confidence interval -- HPV human papillomavirus -- MSAHC Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center -- AddHealth National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health -- OR odds ratio -- STI sexually transmitted infection; Child abuse and neglect -- Adolescent health -- Alcohol and drug use -- Depression -- Risk behaviors; Child abuse -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-2134

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Over six million children each year are referred to child protective services for child abuse (sexual, physical and emotional) and neglect (physical and emotional). Objective: While the relationship between child sexual abuse and sexually transmitted infections has been documented, there has been little research regarding the effects of other forms of maltreatment. Participants and setting: 882 inner-city females aged 12–20 years of age seen at a large adolescent and young adult (AYA) health center in New York City between 2012–2017. Methods: History of maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Associations with depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior, peer deviancy, drug/alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors were assessed. Results: History of maltreatment was common in our cohort of inner-city AYA females, with 59.6 % reporting any type of maltreatment, including sexual abuse (17.5 %), physical abuse (19.5 %) or neglect (26.2 %), and emotional abuse (30.7 %) or neglect (40.4 %). We observed significant associations between all forms of maltreatment and risk of depression, drug/alcohol use, antisocial behaviors, peer deviancy, and risky sexual risk behaviors (including having a higher number of sexual partners, having a sexual partner 5+ years older, and anal sex). Physical and emotional abuse were associated with having unprotected sex while under the influence of drugs/alcohol. Conclusions and relevance: Reporting a history of maltreatment was associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in risky sexual and antisocial behaviors, as well as depression in inner-city female youth. These data highlight the broad, lingering repercussions of all types of child maltreatment.