THE LONG-TERM SEQUELAE OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ABUSE - A LONGITUDINALCOMMUNITY STUDY

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship betwe en childhood and adolescent physical and sexual abuse before the age o f 18 and psychosocial functioning in mid-adolescence (age 15) and earl y adulthood (age 21) in a representative community sample of young adu lts. Subjects were 375 participants in an ongoing 17-year longitudinal study. At age 21, nearly 11% reported physical or sexual abuse before age 18. Psychiatric disorders based on DSM-III-R criteria were assess ed utilizing the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Revised Version ( DIS-III-R). Approximately 80% of the abused young adults met DSM-III-R criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder at age 21. Compared to their nonabused counterparts, abused subjects demonstrated significan t impairments in functioning both at ages 15 and at 21, including more depressive symptomatology, anxiety, psychiatric disorders, emotional- behavioral problems, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. While ab used individuals were functioning significantly more poorly overall at ages 15 and 21 than their nonabused peers, gender differences and dis tinct patterns of impaired functioning emerged. These deficits undersc ore the need for early intervention and prevention strategies to fores tall or minimize the serious consequences of child abuse.