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Protective Personality Characteristics Among Adolescent Victims of Maltreatment

NCJ Number
140047
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 16 Issue: 5 Dated: (September-October 1992) Pages: 743-754
Author(s)
P B Moran; J Eckenrode
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A sample of 33 maltreated adolescent females and a control group of 112 nonmaltreated adolescent females were administered a questionnaire containing scales measuring locus of control orientation, self-esteem, and depression.
Abstract
Ordinary least squares regression analyses were used to determine whether the effects of maltreatment on depression varied as a function of self-esteem and locus-of-control orientation; the analyses controlled for parental socioeconomic status and education and subject's age. The findings showed that self-esteem and locus of control for good events interacted with maltreatment status to affect depression, indicating that these factors may be protective devices in relation to depression for maltreated adolescent females. In examining the relationship between age of the victim when maltreatment began and existence of those protective personality characteristics, the authors found that long-term maltreatment was associated with lower levels of protective devices among adolescent females. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 55 references