Abstract
Childhood exposure to violence and victimization is a significant public health problem, with potentially long-lasting, deleterious
effects on adult mental health. Using a longitudinal study design, 123 young adults—identified in adolescence as at-risk for
high school dropout—were examined for the effects of multi-domain childhood victimization on emotional distress and suicide
risk, net of adolescent risk and protective factors, including family dysfunction. The hypothesis that higher levels of cumulative
childhood victimization would be significantly associated with mental health maladjustment in young adulthood was confirmed
by the analysis. However, the victimization predictors of adult emotional distress were different than the predictors of adult
suicide risk. These findings indicate the need for prevention and intervention approaches that include thorough assessment,
and focus on the childhood and adolescent problem areas that are most consequential for long-term psychological well-being.
effects on adult mental health. Using a longitudinal study design, 123 young adults—identified in adolescence as at-risk for
high school dropout—were examined for the effects of multi-domain childhood victimization on emotional distress and suicide
risk, net of adolescent risk and protective factors, including family dysfunction. The hypothesis that higher levels of cumulative
childhood victimization would be significantly associated with mental health maladjustment in young adulthood was confirmed
by the analysis. However, the victimization predictors of adult emotional distress were different than the predictors of adult
suicide risk. These findings indicate the need for prevention and intervention approaches that include thorough assessment,
and focus on the childhood and adolescent problem areas that are most consequential for long-term psychological well-being.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-012-9438-0
- Authors
- Carole Hooven, Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington, Box 357263, Seattle, WA 98195-8732, USA
- Paula S. Nurius, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Patricia Logan-Greene, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Elaine A. Thompson, Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington, Box 357263, Seattle, WA 98195-8732, USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482