Behavioral Risk, Emotional Risk, and Child Abuse Among Adolescents in a Nonclinical Setting

This study on physical & sexual abuse among adolescents surveyed 3,998 students, from grades 7 to 12, in a rural community in Indiana. Almost 20% reported some form of physical &/or sexual abuse, with more girls than boys reporting sexual abuse. Problem behaviors, like alcohol use, & emotional problems, trouble with sleeping, difficulty with anger, & attempted suicides, were found to be higher in abused adolescents than in their nonabused peers. (VM)