The Relation of Childhood Abuse Experiences to Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Male Youths Who Have Sexually Offended
Abstract
Background: Among adolescents, drug use and abuse is a health concern because of the risk of acute harms, and increased likelihood of development of dependence. It has been shown that childhood maltreatment is associated with drug addiction in adulthood. However, the sequenced progression from drug use to dependence indicates a better understanding of the relationship between maltreatment and drug use is needed to improve prevention and interventions. Aim: To determine the association between exposure to the early life stress of childhood maltreatment, specifically physical and sexual abuse, with adolescent illicit drug use. Methods: A systematic search strategy was applied Embase, PsycINFO and Ovid MEDLINE(R) databases. Methods were based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. See Figure 1 for search strategy and search terms. Results: Of 7914 identified articles, 13 were included. A significant association between childhood maltreatment and adolescent drug use was shown in 11 studies. Six studies assessed both physical abuse and sexual abuse separately; when comparing them four showed a stronger association with physical abuse in comparison with sexual abuse, one showed a stronger association with sexual abuse and one did not show differences among abuse categories. The effect of covariates was demonstrated by comparing unadjusted and adjusted models. It was shown that the number of times that each traumatic event occurred may increase the association between exposure and outcome. Cannabis was the most studied drug. It was shown that even when studying an individual drug, rather than any illicit drug use, association persisted in most cases. Conclusions: Evidence supports a relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent drug use, although relevant differences in association between classes and subtypes of maltreatment can be found. The vast majority of the included studies are confirming the hypothesis that childhood maltreatment is indeed a risk factor for the onset of drug use during adolescence, which increases risk for addiction problems in adulthood. It is important for policy makers to incorporate this knowledge into public health agendas, focusing on early life stages and ways to avoid and address trauma and stress. Regarding clinical practice, it is important to acknowledge this in order to proficiently identify and screen high risk subjects during clinical appointments. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, research, adolescents, teens, youth, long term effects, substance abuse, drugs, literature review
Citation
Davis, Kathryn. (2017). The Relation of Childhood Abuse Experiences to Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Male Youths Who Have Sexually Offended. (masters thesis). Brandeis University.