Survival responses to incest: Adolescents in crisis

Lindberg, Frederick H.; Distad, Lois J.

doi:10.1016/0145-2134(85)90061-4

Cited by 63 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Studies also report associations between childhood maltreatment and drug abuse in adolescence or adulthood (Brown & Anderson, 1991; Dembo, Williams, La Voie, Berry, Getreu, Kern, Genung, Schmeidler, Wish, & Mayo, 1990; Moran, Vuchinich, & Hall, 2004). Abused and neglected youths may initiate drug use as a way of coping with an aversive home environment (Harrison, Hoffmann, & Edwall, 1989b; Lindberg & Distad, 1985), to enhance self-esteem (Cavaiola & Schiff, 1989; Dembo, Williams, La Voie, Berry, Getreu, Wish, Schmeidler, & Washburn, 1989; Harrison et al, 1989b), to relieve symptoms of depression (Kazdin, Moser, Colbus, & Bell, 1985), or to obtain peer support (Singer, Petchers, & Hussey, 1989). Drug use may also develop as part of a general pattern of self-destructive behavior associated with low self-worth, poor self-concept, and self-blame (Lindberg & Distad, 1985).…”

Section: Potential Mechanisms Linking Childhood Maltreatment and Prosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Youth Problem Behaviors in the Path From Child Abuse and Neglect to Prostitution: A Prospective Examination

Wilson

Widom

2010

Journal of Research on Adolescence

128

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Behaviors beginning in childhood or adolescence may mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and involvement in prostitution. This paper examines five potential mediators: early sexual initiation, running away, juvenile crime, school problems, and early drug use. Using a prospective cohort design, abused and neglected children (ages 0-11) with cases processed during 1967-1971 were matched with non-abused, non-neglected children and followed into young adulthood. Data are from in-person interviews at approximate age 29 and arrest records through 1994. Structural Equation Modeling tested path models. Results indicated that victims of child abuse and neglect were at increased risk for all problem behaviors, except drug use. In the full model, only early sexual initiation remained significant as a mediator in the pathway from child abuse and neglect to prostitution. Findings were generally consistent for physical and sexual abuse and neglect. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce problem behaviors among maltreated children may also reduce their risk for prostitution later in life. Keywords child abuse; child neglect; prostitution; youth problem behavior An extensive body of literature suggests that individuals involved in prostitution often come from abusive and neglectful childhood backgrounds (Bagley & Young, 1987;McClanahan, McClelland, Abram, & Teplin, 1999;Nixon, Tutty, Downe, Gorkoff, & Ursel, 2002;Potter, Martin, & Romans, 1999;Simons & Whitbeck, 1991;Van Brunschot & Brannigan, 2002). However, the mechanisms that lead from childhood abuse and neglect to involvement in prostitution are not well understood (Cusick, 2006), largely because few studies have examined early behaviors that may mediate this relationship (Abramovich, 2005). Much of the early literature focused on psychological mechanisms that may link childhood sexual abuse to involvement in prostitution (e.g., James & Meyerding, 1977;Miller, 1986). Such conceptualizations, however, ignore risk associated with other forms of childhood abuse and neglect, as well as the range of social factors that are associated with engagement in prostitution. This paper expands upon previous work with a large prospective study that has documented a relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and involvement in prostitution in young adulthood (Widom & Ames, 1994;Widom & Kuhns, 1996; Wilson & Widom, in press) by using the same sample to examine youth problem behaviors (early sexual initiation, running away, juvenile crime, school problems, and drug use) as potential mediators of this relationship. Ecodevelopmental theory (Perrino, Please address correspondence regarding this article to Dr. Widom at 899 Tenth Avenue, Rm 631, New York, NY 10019; cwidom@jjay.cuny.edu. NIH Public AccessAuthor Manuscript J Res Adolesc. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 January 1. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptGonzalez-Soldevilla, Szapocznik & Coatsworth, 1999) provides a theoretical framework for th...

show abstract

Section: Potential Mechanisms Linking Childhood Maltreatment and Prosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Youth Problem Behaviors in the Path From Child Abuse and Neglect to Prostitution: A Prospective Examination

Wilson

Widom

2010

Journal of Research on Adolescence

128

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While the Flett et al (2002) model has not been tested extensively, there are numerous case studies of perfectionism among young people and these case studies point to a possible link between perfectionism and a history of childhood maltreatment. One of the most disturbing case excerpts is the account of a 14-year old girl who was emotionally neglected by her alcoholic parents and sexually abused by her grandfather for 10 years (Lindberg and Distad 1985). She was described as perfectionistic and tending to intellectualize her trauma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Perfectionism, Coping, Social Support, and Depression in Maltreated Adolescents

Flett

Druckman

Hewitt

et al. 2011

J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The current study examined the associations among dimensions of perfectionism, coping, social support, and depression in 58 adolescents with a history of maltreatment. Participants completed the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism, multidimensional measures of coping and social support, and the CES-D Depression Scale. Correlational analyses showed that depression was associated with socially prescribed perfectionism, internalized emotion-oriented coping, avoidant-oriented distancing, and low family support and peer support. Analyses of coping responses and perfectionism established links between self-oriented perfectionism and internalized emotion-oriented coping responses and self-reliant problem-solving. Socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with avoidance-oriented coping (i.e., distancing). While self-oriented perfectionism and social support were unrelated, socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with reduced levels of family support. Collectively, the findings highlight the roles of poor coping and social support as contributors to the emotional distress experienced by maltreated adolescents. Moreover, it is suggested that the distress experienced by perfectionistic youth with a history of maltreatment reflects, in part, the role of maladaptive coping styles and coping resource deficits. Our findings support further consideration of personality dimensions such as perfectionism as contributors to poor functioning among maltreated youth.

show abstract

“…When sexual abuse is present in a family, a daughter's attachment and identification with her mother may become exaggerated as well (Borgman, 1984). In some situations, such a daughter may be responsible for a great deal of the housekeeping and childrearing tasks (Lindberg & Distad, 1985;O'Brien, 1987, Herman, 1981Gelinas, 1983). Parentification of a daughter (Borgman, 1984;Gelinas, 1983), poor communication patterns, and blurred boundaries are also characteristics of the family in which sexual abuse occurs (Yates, 1982;Burgess, 1985;Gelinas, 1983;Sgroi et al, 1982).…”

Section: Sexual Abusementioning

confidence: 93%

“…In treating sexually abused adolescents, Lindberg and Distad (1985) stress the need to understand self-destructive behaviors as survival responses. The decisions to engage in sexual activity or to bear a child may be logical and predictable responses to overwhelming stress or feelings of helplessness created by the experience of abuse.…”

Section: Teen Pregnancy As a Consequence Of Sexual Abusementioning

confidence: 99%