Publication year: 2011
Source: Child Abuse & Neglect, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 9 April 2011
Bryndis Bjork, Asgeirsdottir , Inga Dora, Sigfusdottir , Gisli H., Gudjonsson , Jon Fridrik, Sigurdsson
Objective: To examine whether depressed mood and anger mediate the effects of sexual abuse and family conflict/violence on self-injurious behavior and substance use. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted including 9,085 16–19 year old students attending all high schools in Iceland in 2004. Participants reported frequency of sexual abuse, family conflict/violence, self-injurious behavior, substance use, depressed mood, and anger. Results: Sexual abuse and family conflict/violence had direct effects on self-injurious behavior and substance use among both genders, when controlling for age, family structure, parental education, anger, and depressed mood. More importantly, the indirect effects of sexual abuse and family conflict/violence on self-injurious behavior among…