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Gender-specific Outcomes for Sexually Abused Adolescents

NCJ Number
164633
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 1219-1231
Author(s)
J M Chandy; R W Blum; M D Resnick
Date Published
1996
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Adolescents who reported being sexually abused were studied to determine the gender differences in outcomes related to school performance, suicidal involvement, eating disorders, sexual risk-taking, drug use, and delinquency.
Abstract
The sample included 370 males and 2,681 females. Results revealed that abused females tended to engage in internalizing behaviors and males in externalizing behaviors. Male adolescents were at higher risk than females for poor school performance, delinquency, and sexual risk-taking. In contrast, female adolescents were at higher risk for suicidal ideation and behavior as well as disordered eating. Females also had more frequent use of alcohol, although males had more extreme use of alcohol and more frequent and extreme use of marijuana. Protective factors against adverse outcomes for females included a higher emotional attachment to family, being religious or spiritual, the presence of both parents at home, and a perception of overall health. Factors that augmented adverse outcomes for females included a stressful school setting due to perceived high levels of drug use in and around school, worry about sexual abuse, maternal alcohol consumption, and physical abuse. Maternal education and parental concern appeared to be protective factors for male adolescents. Tables and 71 references (Author abstract modified)