Adjustment Problems in Early Adulthood Among Victims of Childhood Physical Abuse: A Focus on Adolescent Risk and Protective Factors

Physical abuse in childhood places individuals at risk for many behavioral and mental health problems in adulthood. Nevertheless, not all abused children will ultimately experience these negative outcomes. Using a subsample of physically abused youth from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescen...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kuper, Julie L. (Author)
Contributors: Turanovic, Jillian J. 1985- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2020, Volume: 66, Issue: 3, Pages: 337-362
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Childhood physical abuse
Depressive symptoms
Low self-esteem
Violence
Early adulthood
Protective factors
Description
Summary:Physical abuse in childhood places individuals at risk for many behavioral and mental health problems in adulthood. Nevertheless, not all abused children will ultimately experience these negative outcomes. Using a subsample of physically abused youth from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examined whether protective and risk factors in adolescence (intelligence, family attachments, and neighborhood disadvantage) explained why some victims fared better in early adulthood. Outcomes of violent offending, depressive symptoms, and low self-esteem were examined. Family attachments were found to be protective against depressive symptoms and low self-esteem, while the effects of intelligence were more limited. These findings emphasize that there is marked variability in how physically abused children fare in early adulthood.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/0011128719850499