History of sexual abuse and parental alcohol misuse: Risk, outcomes and protective factors in adolescents

Abstract

This study examined the school performance, suicidal involvement, disordered eating behaviors, pregnancy risk and chemical use of teenagers with a history of sexual abuse or parental alcohol misuse and found that they had higher rates of these adverse outcomes than among a comparison group of teenagers without such background risk factors. Adolescents with dual-risk background reported higher levels of suicide risk, disordered eating, sexual behaviors and chemical abuse than teenagers with only one background risk factor. Among index group members, protective factors against these adverse outcomes included a high degree of religiosity and the ability to discuss problems with family or friends. Risk factors that increased the likelihood of adverse outcomes included depression, perceived substance use in school and worries about family financial security.

The Comorbid and Individual Impacts of Maternal Depression and Substance Dependence on Parenting and Child Behavior Problems

“…When caregiver substance abuse is present, children often suffer numerous behavioral and developmental consequences, including lower academic achievement, truancy, suicidal involvement, teenage pregnancy, eating disorders, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana (Chandy et al 1996; Hill et al 2011). Families in which maternal substance abuse is present are more likely to experience more frequent and longer foster care placements, and are more likely to exit the foster care system through adoption (Semidei et al 2001; Vanderploeg et al 2007).…”

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“…This emphasis is much aligned with resilience research. Indeed, external support in the form of family, friends and the community (Chandy, Blum & Resnick, 1996) and high self-esteem (Valentine & Feinauer, 1993) have been found to be prominent protective factors by researchers.…”

Preventing Suicide: A Neglected Social Work Research Agenda

“…Just as the suicide rates differ between the genders, risk and protective factors also appear to impact male and female suicide rates differently. For instance, people with a history of sexual abuse have a significantly increased rate of suicidal ideation and attempts (Benda, 2003;Chandy et al, 1996;Evans et al, 1996;Freedenthal and Stiffman, 2004;King et al, 2004;Martin et al, 2004;Osgood and Manetta, 2000-01;Rodell et al, 2003;Tubman et al, 2001;Ystgaard et al, 2004). However, Martin et al's (2004) study found the relationship between sexual abuse and suicidality among females to be completely mediated by hopelessness, depression and family dysfunction.…”

“…A positive relationship between the intensity and longevity of substance abuse and attempted suicide exists among homeless veterans (Benda, 2003), but this finding is in need of further study to determine whether it holds true for other populations. Alcohol abuse in the home is also positively related to suicidality among adolescents (Chandy et al, 1996;Fernquist, 2000), while among Native American adolescents, the positive relationship between suicidality and substance abuse in the home is found only among adolescents who are raised on a reservation (Freedenthal and Stiffman, 2004). A significant and positive relationship between divorce rates and suicide rates is also established for both genders and across numerous countries (Cutright and Fernquist, 2004;Fernquist, 1995-96;Fernquist and Cutright, 1998).…”

“…Additionally, some studies that include minority populations use sample sizes that are not representative of the minority groups' general population; therefore, some research appears to contradict other research. For instance, Albers and Evans' (1994) study found suicidal ideation to be more likely among students of colour than among white students, while another study found being African-American to be a protective factor against suicide (Chandy et al, 1996). Future research is needed that uses representative sample sizes of minority groups and that identifies specific populations instead of lumping them into one group.…”