Examination of data from 1985 visits by 110 runaway and 655 non-runaway youth to an outpatient medical clinic reveals that runaway youth are at greater risk for a wide variety of medical problems and of health-compromising behaviors including suicide, depression, prostitution, and drug use. (Author/BJV)

Examined sexual abuse, physical abuse, and child neglect reports in New York state in 1985 to identify case factors that predict the substantiation of reports following an investigation by child protective services. Reports from professionals were substantiated at a significantly higher rate than reports from nonprofessionals because of…

A senior psychology seminar that dealt with recent psychological, sociological, and feminist literature on sexual victimization is described. Major topics addressed were rape, childhood sexual abuse, and incest. The topics of pornography, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation in the media were also covered. (Author/RM)

Boundaries are internally or externally imposed limits that define appropriate relationships between individuals. Many educators do not set clear boundaries between themselves and their students. For example, a conversation with a student about sexually transmitted disease that might be appropriate for a school counselor or school psychologist is…

This study found that the abuse of girls in the coeducational schools where the research took place was widespread and took the form of aggressive sexual behavior, intimidation and physical assault by older boys, sexual advances by male teachers, and corporal punishment and verbal abuse by both female and male teachers (on boys as well as girls).…

Until recently, understanding about women's health has been traditionally mediated by the medical model, which tends to regard each health problem in a vacuum. Such an approach ignored important considerations, such as body image. In an effort to explore this health factor, a review of the literature regarding women's health and its relation to…

A primary goal of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is to identify and promote programs that enhance the field of juvenile justice. Since 1992, the Gould-Wysinger Awards, commemorating two OJJDP professionals, have recognized programs that advance the objectives of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act…

Most gang membership research studies males; few examine the etiology of female gang membership. Presents themes of female gang membership gathered from interviews with 15 young women. Examines demographic material, family structure, initiation rites, and criminal behaviors. Explores implications for social work practice and research. (FC)

Describes revision and expansion of the Conflict Tactics Scales, widely used to measure psychological and physical attacks on a partner in a marital, cohabitating, or dating relationship. The revised scales, with increased specificity, a new format, and measurements of sexual coercion and physical injury, show preliminary evidence of enhanced…

A false allegation of sexual abuse at a residential outdoor education facility demonstrates why programs should have written policies and procedures directing staff how to respond to infatuations and "come-on" traps of young people; how to avoid bodily contact, being alone with a group, or dealing emotionally and physically with…

A survey of 54 British mental health professionals found respondents were reasonably knowledgeable about childhood sexual abuse. However, they were not very comfortable, competent, or supported in their work with these clients. Less experienced staff were more likely to feel supported. Those who received training and/or supervision felt more…

Maintains that art therapy encompasses the areas of mental health and art education. Presents a case study of three sisters from a family with a history of sexual abuse and illustrates how art therapy was used as part of their overall treatment. (CFR)

Reviews current knowledge of the most frequently asked questions about child sexual abuse, in areas such as its prevalence and trends, and what populations are at risk. Data presented from 19 adult retrospective surveys show that the incidence of reported child sexual abuse is rising, that less than one-third of the cases were committed by…

Comparison of 40 French-speaking Canadian negligent mothers with 40 similar nonnegligent mothers found an extreme level of parental stress and a high level of depression for the negligent mothers, who also had a history of placements, violence, and sexual abuse. They did not differ from nonnegligent mothers for parental breakups and…

The use of base rate information by professionals (n=161) and undergraduates (n=97) in deciding probability of sexual abuse was studied. While professionals better prioritized the evidence of abuse in hypothetical cases based on sexual behaviors, both groups misestimated the probability of abuse for a child from a population with a known base rate…