SEXUAL ABUSE HISTORY AND PROBLEMS IN ADOLESCENCE - EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF MODERATING VARIABLES

This study explores the relationship between sexual abuse and two prob lem outcomes, binge drinking and suicidal ideation, in a sample of 42, 568 adolescents. The effects of current and prior sexual abuse on thes e outcomes were examined for females and males separately. Of particul ar interest were factors related to the likelihood of problem behavior s among adolescents who had been sexually abused. Adolescents who had been both physically abused and sexually abused exhibited more problem s than those who experienced only one type of abuse. High levels of pa rental monitoring and high levels of support from at least one parent decreased the risk of problem outcomes among sexually abused adolescen ts. School success also reduced the risk of problem outcomes for some of the groups studied.