Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Differences among sexually abused and nonabused youth living with HIV.

Anaya HD, Swendeman D, Rotheram-Borus MJ

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. hanaya@ucla.edu

Risk behaviors were compared between sexually abused and nonabused youth living with HIV (YLH). Abused YLH were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide, to have been admitted into an alcohol and/or drug treatment program, and to have engaged in crack cocaine use than were nonabused YLH and had a greater number of sexual partners. A significantly higher proportion of abused YLH had been incarcerated in contrast to nonabused youth. There were also significantly greater conduct problems among abused YLH. Finally, abused YLH had significantly higher scores on positive action and social-support coping styles than nonabused youth. Consistent with previous research, abused youth are at higher risk for a variety of negative outcomes and are also similar in many respects to sexually abused youth who are not HIV-positive. The high frequencies of two positive styles of coping among abused YLH were also observed.

Published 25 October 2005 in J Interpers Violence, 20(12): 1547-59.
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