Health Risk Behaviors and Attempted Suicide in Adolescents who Report Prior Maltreatment

In this study, an anonymous needs assessment survey was completed by 600 high school students to discover if students who experienced physical &/or sexual abuse would be more likely than their peers to report health risk behaviors & suicide attempts. The authors found a relationship between abuse & drinking, cigarette smoking, sexual activity, self-induced vomiting, & suicide attempts. Students with a history of abuse were 3 times more likely than their non-abused peers to attempt suicide. (VM)