Assault and Abuse in Adolescents: Does it always lead to the development of PTSD in adolescents?

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Pontell, Shoshana
Area of Honors:
Psychology
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Michelle Gayle Newman, Thesis Supervisor
Kenneth N. Levy, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
PTSD
Adolecents
Abuse
Assault
Abstract:
Background: Exposure to violence during childhood and adolescence has been linked to a range of adverse psychological outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study examined whether exposure to assault and abuse during adolescence is associated with the development of PTSD while also considering the role of multiple demographic and contextual factors. Methods: Participants were drawn from the National Survey of Adolescents, a nationally representative telephone survey of American youth. The total sample consisted of 4,023 adolescents aged 12 to 17 living in the United States. Results: Chi-square analyses were conducted to examine associations between demographic variables, exposure to violence, and both current and lifetime PTSD. Findings indicated that adolescents who reported experiencing physical assault, physical assault or abuse, physically abusive punishment, sexual assault, or witnessing violence were significantly more likely to meet criteria for both current and lifetime PTSD (all ps < .001), with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate (Vs = .142–.247). For example, current PTSD was more prevalent among adolescents who experienced sexual assault (21.7%) compared to those who did not (3.8%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 94.22, p < .001, V = .220, with similar patterns observed for lifetime PTSD (31.5% vs. 6.4%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 234.18, p < .001, V = .246. Witnessing violence was also strongly associated with increased odds of current PTSD (9.6% vs. 2.2%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 109.25, p < .001, V = .165, and lifetime PTSD (15.5% vs. 3.5%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 180.99, p < .001, V = .212. Additionally, females reported significantly higher rates of both current PTSD (7.1% vs. 3.4%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 27.15, p < .001, V = .082, and lifetime PTSD (11.0% vs. 5.9%), χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 33.40, p < .001, V = .091, compared to males. Significant racial and ethnic differences were also observed, including higher rates of PTSD among Latinx adolescents for both current, χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 8.99, p = .003, V = .047, and lifetime PTSD, χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 6.13, p = .013, V = .039, as well as among Black adolescents for current, χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 4.96, p = .026, V = .035, and lifetime PTSD, χ²(1, N = 4,023) = 4.12, p = .043, V = .032. Place of residence was not significantly associated with current PTSD but was significantly associated with lifetime PTSD, χ²(1, N = 4,015) = 4.08, p = .043, V = .023. Conclusion: These findings highlight the psychological impact of both direct and indirect exposure to violence during adolescence and emphasize the immense importance of prevention, early identification, and trauma-informed intervention efforts aimed at reducing adolescent exposure to victimization and mitigating its long-term mental health consequences.