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Family Violence and Risk of Substance Use Among Mexican Adolescents

NCJ Number
231994
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2010 Pages: 576-584
Author(s)
Miguel Angel Caballero; Luciana Ramos; Catalina Gonzalez; Maria Teresa Saltijeral
Date Published
August 2010
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This cross-sectional study of students 12-16 years old in two secondary schools in Mexico City (n=936, 54.3 percent males) determined whether the students' experience of parental psychological and physical violence, as well as sexual violence within or outside the family, was linked with students' risk for consuming tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
Abstract
Between 5 and 6 of every 10 students reported emotional abuse by either their father or mother. Physical violence by the father was reported by 58.67 percent of the boys and 54.6 percent of the girls. Physical violence by the mother was reported by 61.6 percent of the boys and 65.89 percent of the girls. Sexual violence was reported by 11.32 percent of the sample (14.95 percent of the girls and 8.27 percent of the boys). For boys, the study found that those who had experienced psychological abuse by either parent were at twice the risk for using tobacco compared to students who did not report parental psychological abuse. Boys who had experienced sexual violence had an increased risk for consuming drugs of various types. For girls, being a victim of multiple forms of violence within the family significantly increased their risk for consuming tobacco, alcohol, and drugs compared with nonvictims. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that youth who have experienced any type of family violence be considered at risk for substance abuse, so preventive measures should be used. For these measures, a joint strategy for both parents and adolescents should be used in stopping the abuse and making parents and adolescents aware of the adverse consequences that may result regarding substance abuse. 4 tables and 51 references