SEXUAL ABUSE AND ADOLESCENT MALADJUSTMENT - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE VICTIMS

In this study data from a large representative community sample of ado lescents were analysed to investigate the relationship between a histo ry of sexual abuse and adolescent functioning. Emotional problems, beh avioural problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviour of boys and girls w ith a history of sexual abuse were compared to those in a matched cont rol group of boys and girls without such a history. Both sexually abus ed boys and girls reported significantly more emotional problems, beha vioural problems, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than their no n-abused counterparts. The results also indicated that the experience of sexual abuse carried far more consequences for boys than for girls regarding the use of alcohol, aggressive/criminal behaviour, use of dr ugs, and the amount of truancy, as well as regarding suicidal thoughts and behaviour. For example, whereas 2.6% of the non-abused boys repor ted a former suicide attempt, this percentage was 13 times higher for the sexually abused boys (26 .5%). The results of this paper lend supp ort to the call for further research investigating gender differences in response to sexual abuse. (C) 1998 The Association for Professional s in Services for Adolescents.