THE ARTICLE ADDRESSES TEENAGERS AS (OFTEN OVERLOOKED) VICTIMS OF ABUSE, AS BROTHERS OR SISTERS OF YOUNGER CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED, AS FUTURE PARENTS, AND AS ABUSERS THEMSELVES OF YOUNGER CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. TWO EFFECTS OF THE IMAGE OF THE PERFECT FAMILY SO OFTEN PORTRAYED IN GRADE SCHOOL PRIMERS AND ON TELEVISION ARE NOTED: (1) PARENTS MAY LASH OUT AT CHILDREN WHO FAIL TO MEASURE UP TO THE IMAGE, AND (2) PARENTS AND CHILDREN, FEELING THAT THEIRS MUST BE THE ONLY FAMILY IN WHICH ABUSE OCCURS, MAY BE RELUCTANT TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP. INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ON THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF ABUSE (INCLUDING INCEST) AND NEGLECT. HYPOTHETICAL CASE EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATE THE VARIETY OF WAYS IN WHICH CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS CAN BE AFFECTED BY PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT. SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN CHILDREN ARE DESCRIBED. PRESSURES THAT MAY CAUSE PEOPLE TO ABUSE CHILDREN ARE EXPLAINED. CHARACTERISTICS COMMONLY OBSERVED IN ABUSIVE PARENTS--ISOLATION, BELIEF IN HARSH PUNISHMENT, LACK OF SELF-RESPECT, ETC.--ARE NOTED. THE ARTICLE CLOSES WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUTHS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ABUSE AND NEGLECT. READERS ARE ADVISED FIRST TO CONSIDER THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROBLEM. SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE ARE SUGGESTED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE THEMSELVES VICTIMS OR ABUSERS OR WHO KNOW OF ABUSE SITUATIONS. YOUTHS ARE URGED TO REPORT ABUSE, OR TO SEEK THE HELP OF AN OLDER PERSON IN FILING A REPORT. REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROBLEM, ALL YOUTHS ARE URGED TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ABOUT ABUSE AND NEGLECT. SOURCES OF SUCH INFORMATION ARE NOTED. WAYS IN WHICH YOUTH GROUPS CAN HELP TO COMBAT CHILD ABUSE, E.G., SETTING UP NURSERIES OR OTHER FACILITIES FOR PARENTS IN NEED OF HELP, ARE SUGGESTED. (LKM)