Published online September 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 3 September 2006, pp. 933-942 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2452)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (34)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hussey, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Kotch, J. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hussey, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Kotch, J. B.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

ARTICLE

Child Maltreatment in the United States: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Adolescent Health Consequences

Jon M. Hussey, PhD, MPHa,b, Jen Jen Chang, PhD, MPHa and Jonathan B. Kotch, MD, MPHa

a Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health
b Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of child maltreatment in the United States and examine its relationship to sociodemographic factors and major adolescent health risks.

METHODS. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health is a prospective cohort study following a national sample of adolescents into adulthood. The wave III interview, completed by 15 197 young adults in 2001–2002 (77.4% response rate), included retrospective measures of child maltreatment. We used these measures to estimate the prevalence of self-reported supervision neglect, physical neglect, physical assault, and contact sexual abuse during childhood. Next, we investigated the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and maltreatment. Finally, we examined the association between child maltreatment and adolescent self-rated health; overweight status; depression; cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalant use; and violent behavior.

RESULTS. Having been left home alone as a child, indicating possible supervision neglect, was most prevalent (reported by 41.5% of respondents), followed by physical assault (28.4%), physical neglect (11.8%), and contact sexual abuse (4.5%). Each sociodemographic characteristic was associated with ≥1 type of maltreatment, and race/ethnicity was associated with all 4. Each type of maltreatment was associated with no fewer than 8 of the 10 adolescent health risks examined.

CONCLUSIONS. Self-reported childhood maltreatment was common. The likelihood of maltreatment varied across many sociodemographic characteristics. Each type of maltreatment was associated with multiple adolescent health risks.

Key Words: abuse • socioeconomic factors • neglect • adolescent health • prevalence

Abbreviations: Add Health—National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health • CASI—computer-assisted self-interviewing • SES—socioeconomic status • OR—odds ratio • aOR—adjusted odds ratio • NCANDS—National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System • CPS—Child Protective Service • NIS—National Incidence Study

Accepted Apr 10, 2006.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
P. Lanier, M. Jonson-Reid, M. J. Stahlschmidt, B. Drake, and J. Constantino
Child Maltreatment and Pediatric Health Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Low-income Children
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2009; (2009) jsp086v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
R. G. Girardet, S. Lahoti, L. A. Howard, N. N. Fajman, M. K. Sawyer, E. M. Driebe, F. Lee, R. L. Sautter, E. Greenwald, C. M. Beck-Sague, et al.
Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Suspected Child Victims of Sexual Assault
Pediatrics, July 1, 2009; 124(1): 79 - 86.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Child MaltreatHome page
Fuhua Zhai and Qin Gao
Child Maltreatment Among Asian Americans: Characteristics and Explanatory Framework
Child Maltreat, May 1, 2009; 14(2): 207 - 224.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
E. A. Shirtcliff, C. L. Coe, and S. D. Pollak
Early childhood stress is associated with elevated antibody levels to herpes simplex virus type 1
PNAS, February 24, 2009; 106(8): 2963 - 2967.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AJPHHome page
C. A. Taylor, N. B. Guterman, S. J. Lee, and P. J. Rathouz
Intimate Partner Violence, Maternal Stress, Nativity, and Risk for Maternal Maltreatment of Young Children
Am J Public Health, January 1, 2009; 99(1): 175 - 183.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J. B. Kotch, T. Lewis, J. M. Hussey, D. English, R. Thompson, A. J. Litrownik, D. K. Runyan, S. I. Bangdiwala, B. Margolis, and H. Dubowitz
Importance of Early Neglect for Childhood Aggression
Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 725 - 731.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
E. Olshen, K. H. McVeigh, R. A. Wunsch-Hitzig, and V. I. Rickert
Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Suicide Attempts Among Urban Teenagers
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2007; 161(6): 539 - 545.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]