Maltreatment experiences as predictors of self-esteem and psychiatric morbidity among sheltered homeless adolescents (original) (raw)
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Child Abuse & Neglect, 2000
Objective: This study examined the differential effects of various forms of abuse, as well as their combined effects. The study also sought to separate the factors uniquely associated with abuse from those associated with the more general problems present in an abusive family environment. Methodology: Data were collected from 329 homeless adolescents. Preliminary analyses indicated some degree of matching for family background variables. Any differences in demographic or family characteristics were controlled for statistically. Results: Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences across groups for rates of assault, rape, depression/dysthymia, and attempted suicide. Multivariate analyses (MANOVAs) indicated significant differences in severity of internalizing problems and cognitive problems. Without exception, the group with histories of both physical and sexual abuse exhibited the most severe symptomatology and was at greatest risk for revictimization. Multiple regression analyses suggested that abuse histories were predictive of internalizing problems while family characteristics were more predictive of externalizing problems.
Abuse and neglect as predictors of self concept among below poverty line adolescents from India
2013
The present study examined the maltreatment experiences and disturbances in self-concept of below poverty line (BPL) adolescents from India. The sample consisted of 140 participants (age 13-17 years), both male and female, 70 from BPL families and 70 from above poverty line (APL) families. Purposive sampling method was used to draw data from both groups. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) by Bernstein and Fink (1999) and Self Concept scale by Ahluwalia (2002) were employed. Results indicated that BPL participants were high on experiences of abuse and neglect and low on self-concept compared to APL participants. On gender differences of BPL adolescents, sexual abuse and emotional neglect were found high among females whereas physical neglect and self-concept were high among males. Among the various types of maltreatment only physical abuse was found to be the significant predictor of low self-concept of BPL adolescents. It is hoped that the study will prove helpful for planning int...
Childhood Maltreatment and Revictimization in a Homeless Population
Journal of interpersonal violence, 2015
We examined the hypothesis that exposure to childhood maltreatment increases the vulnerability to Adult Victimization (AV) in a homeless population (N = 500). We also investigated the effects of specific types (emotional, physical, and sexual) and cumulative experience of childhood maltreatment on AV, and whether gender moderates these relationships. All three groups with AV experience (emotional, physical, and sexual) indicated higher exposure to childhood abuse and cumulative maltreatment, and those who were sexually victimized as an adult showed higher exposure to childhood neglect. In addition, exposure to childhood maltreatment had type-specific and cumulative effects on AV. Exposure to all types of childhood abuse maintained a strong direct association with AV, regardless of demographic characteristics, including age, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and housing situation. In addition, exposure to physical neglect showed a significant relationship with Adult Sexual ...
Child Abuse & Neglect, 2021
Background: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a major public health concern, but limited data are available on the occurrence, co-occurrence, and correlates of these phenomena outside Western societies. Objectives: The first aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of CAN across two settings (inside and outside the home) among children and adolescents in Mumbai, India. Another aim was to use latent class analysis (LCA) to identify meaningful profiles of maltreatment, and to examine how class membership is associated with mental wellbeing. Participants and setting: Self-report data was collected from males (n = 4454; M age = 12.77 years) and females (n = 3850; M age = 12.87) at secondary schools. Results: Four latent classes of maltreatment were identified among males, including 'low victimisation' (50.4% of participants), 'intra-familial non-sexual abuse' (34.6%), 'intra-and extrafamilial non-sexual abuse' (10.2%), and 'poly-victimisation' (4.8%). Among females, three latent classes were identified including, 'low victimisation' (68.1%), 'intra-familial non-sexual abuse' (28.8%), and 'poly-victimisation' (3.0%). Compared to the 'low victimisation' class, children in the abuse classes demonstrated higher levels of anxiety and depression and increased odds of selfinjurious thoughts and behaviours. These associations were augmented for girls relative to boys. Conclusion: There were very few maltreated children who were subjected to just one form of CAN and experiencing co-occurring patterns of abuse and neglect was associated with indicators of poor mental health, especially among girls. These findings highlight the complexity of the situation and will inform policy makers, health professionals and school counsellors.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2014
Purpose: This article systematically reviews studies of prevalence of childhood experience of physical and sexual abuse in adult people who are homeless in Western countries. Methods: Medline, PsychInfo, and the Cochrane Library were searched using the keywords: homeless*, child* abuse, child* trauma, and child* adversity and the bibliographies of identified articles were reviewed. Sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence rates were explored by meta-regression analysis Results: Twenty-four reports published between January 1990 and August 2013 in three countries provided estimates obtained from up to 9,730 adult individuals who were homeless. Prevalence of reported childhood physical abuse ranged from 6 to 94% with average prevalence of 37%, 95% CI [25, 51]. Reported sexual abuse ranged from 4 to 62%, with average prevalence estimated as 32%, 95% CI [23, 44] for females and 10% for males, 95% CI [6, 17]. Substantial heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I 2 ≥ 98%). Including moderators greatly reduced but did not eliminate this heterogeneity. Moderator analyses suggested that reported physical abuse tended to be higher for predominately white samples and tended to be lower for younger samples. Sexual abuse was far more prevalent in predominately female samples and slightly higher in non-US samples and convenience samples. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that childhood physical and sexual abuse is more prevalent among the homeless in Western countries than in the global population. Physical abuse appears to be particularly prevalent in younger samples and sexual abuse rates are higher in predominately female samples. Further investigation is needed to advance our understanding of how trauma informed treatment and care for the homeless effectively can take into account the service user's experiences of childhood abuse.
Childhood Psychological Abuse and Mental Health of Youth
Mental health is clearly an integral part of health. It is part of an individual‟s capacity to lead a happy and fulfilling life. As a form of child maltreatment psychological abuse can have a significant impact upon the mental health. The current study examined the influencing role of psychological abuse on mental health among 211 Keralite undergraduate youth between 18 to 24 years from data collected using Mental Health Inventory and Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Questionnaire-2. Results revealed average mental health of youth with no significant gender difference in mental health and in the prevalence of psychological abuse except in its severity from father. Psychological abuse significantly correlated with mental health variables. A 2 way ANOVA showed significant main effect of severe maternal psychological abuse on mental health. Severity of parental psychological abuse significantly predicted poor mental health (18.7% variability). The findings indicate the need for more effective measures to prevent psychological abuse of children.
Trauma, Family Factors and the Mental Health of Homeless Adolescents
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2017
Family factors, such as poor family functioning and trauma, have been associated with negative outcomes for homeless adolescents. Further study is needed to better understand how family factors and trauma jointly relate to mental health problems and externalizing behaviors among homeless adolescents. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the influence of trauma (encompassing traumatic events experienced prior to, and after, becoming homeless) and family factors (poor family functioning and family conflict) on mental health problems and externalizing behaviors (substance use, delinquent behaviors, and sexual risk) among 201 homeless adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years. Trauma, poor family functioning, and family conflict significantly predicted greater mental health problems, delinquent behaviors, high-risk sexual behaviors and substance use. Overall, the findings suggest that family factors appear to be key to understanding mental health problems and externalizing behaviors among homeless adolescents. Implications, limitations and future directions are addressed.
Victimization and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Homeless Adolescents
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2004
This article presents lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates and comorbidity for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a sample of 428 homeless and runaway adolescents. Data are from baseline interviews of a longitudinal diagnostic study of 428 (187 males; 241 females) homeless and runaway adolescents aged 16-19 years (mean age = 17.4 years, SD = 1.05). The data were collected by full-time street interviewers on the streets and in shelters in eight Midwestern cities of various populations. About onethird (35.5%) of the runaways met lifetime criteria for PTSD and 16.1% met 12-month criteria for the disorder. More than 90% of the adolescents who met criteria for PTSD met criteria for at least one of the other four diagnoses. Multivariate analyses indicated that correlates of PTSD were age of adolescent, being female, having experienced serious physical abuse and/or sexual abuse from an adult caretaker, and having been assaulted or injured by weapon when on the street. The multiplicative interaction between sexual abuse by caretaker and sexual assault when the adolescents were on their own was statistically significant, indicating that rape victims were highly likely to meet criteria for PTSD regardless of early sexual abuse. At very high levels of early sexual abuse, the probability of meeting criteria for PTSD converges with that for sexual assault victims.
Childhood abuse and adult Homelessness
Physical and Emotional Abuse: Triggers, Short and Long-Term Consequences and Prevention Methods, 2013
Childhood abuse has multiple negative impacts on lifetime development. Increased levels of psychiatric problems are well documented, in particular personality disorder and substance abuse. Furthermore, effects can be long lasting and heavily influence the life course of the abused individuals. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that homeless adult populations in industrialised countries tend to report high levels of childhood physical and sexual abuse. Studies of homeless individuals can shed light on the socioeconomic consequences of severe childhood abuse. Furthermore, they provide insights into the impact of such abuse on mental health in a population in which levels of abuse and mental illness are both high. From a systematic analysis of case notes and clinical interviews, we have collected data on 217 homeless adults in the city of Sheffield, England. More than one in four homeless individuals reported levels of physical abuse or sexual abuse during their childhoods, and levels of psychiatric illness were high, particularly schizophrenia and personality disorder. Furthermore, histories of abuse were found to be associated with being female and with having been raised in local authority care. In adulthood, sexual abuse was associated with personality disorder; whereas, physical abuse was more linked with self-harm. The results reveal a complex picture of psychosocial problems linked to childhood trauma among many homeless adults.