From Child Maltreatment to Adolescent Substance Use: Different Pathways for Males and Females?

Abstract

This study uses data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) project to assess the relationships between childhood physical abuse/sexual abuse and adolescent substance use. Whether these relationships are mediated by externalizing problems, internalizing problems, parent–child attachment, or anger and gender differences in these direct and indirect relationships is also addressed. Results indicate that there is a direct relationship between physical abuse and substance use and that mediating pathways between maltreatment and substance use are different for males and females. These results suggest that gender-responsive services should be provided to prevent and address adolescent substance use.