Sexual intercourse among adolescents maltreated before age 12: A prospective investigation

Author
Black, M.M.Oberlander, S.E.
Lewis, T.
Knight, E.D.
Zolotor, A.J.
Litrownik, A.J.
Thompson, R.
Dubowitz, H.
English, D.E.
Date
2009Journal
PediatricsPublisher
American Academy of PediatricsType
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether child maltreatment (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and neglect) predicts adolescent sexual intercourse; whether associations between maltreatment and sexual intercourse are explained by children's emotional distress, and whether relations among maltreatment, emotional distress, and sexual intercourse differ according to gender. METHODS: The Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect was a multisite, longitudinal investigation. Participants ranged from at-risk to substantiated maltreatment. Maltreatment history was assessed through Child Protective Service records and youth self-report at age 12. Youth reported emotional distress by using the Trauma Symptom Checklist at the age of 12 years and sexual intercourse at ages 14 and 16. Logistic and multiple regressions, adjusting for gender, race, and site, were used to test whether maltreatment predicts sexual intercourse, the explanatory effects of emotional distress, and gender differences. RESULTS: At ages 14 and 16, maltreatment rates were 79% and 81%, respectively, and sexual initiation rates were 21% and 51%. Maltreatment (all types) significantly predicted sexual intercourse. Maltreated youth reported significantly more emotional distress than non-maltreated youth; emotional distress mediated the relationship between maltreatment and intercourse by 14, but not 16. At 14, boys reported higher rates of sexual intercourse than girls and the association between physical abuse and sexual intercourse was not significant for boys. CONCLUSIONS: Maltreatment (regardless of type) predicts sexual intercourse by 14 and 16. Emotional distress explains the relationship by 14. By 16, other factors likely contribute to intercourse. Maltreated children are at risk for early initiation of sexual intercourse and sexually active adolescents should be evaluated for possible maltreatment. Copyright 2009 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Keyword
Adolescent sexualityChild maltreatment
Emotional abuse
Emotional distress
Neglect
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual intercourse
Identifier to cite or link to this item
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70349260929&doi=10.1542%2fpeds.2008-3836&partnerID=40&md5=3276b1aca845079c519b3c8c78d47e22; http://hdl.handle.net/10713/11870ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1542/peds.2008-3836
Scopus Count
Collections
Related articles
- Differential correlates of multi-type maltreatment among urban youth.
- Authors: Arata CM, Langhinrichsen-Rohling J, Bowers D, O'Brien N
- Issue date: 2007 Apr
- Childhood maltreatment, emotional distress, and early adolescent sexual intercourse: multi-informant perspectives on parental monitoring.
- Authors: Oberlander SE, Wang Y, Thompson R, Lewis T, Proctor LJ, Isbell P, English DJ, Dubowitz H, Litrownik AJ, Black MM
- Issue date: 2011 Dec
- Sexual abuse as a factor in adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment.
- Authors: Boyer D, Fine D
- Issue date: 1992 Jan-Feb
- The relation of emotional maltreatment to early adolescent competence: developmental processes in a prospective study.
- Authors: Shaffer A, Yates TM, Egeland BR
- Issue date: 2009 Jan
- Pathways from child maltreatment to internalizing problems: perceptions of control as mediators and moderators.
- Authors: Bolger KE, Patterson CJ
- Issue date: 2001 Fall