The potential benefits of remaining in school on the long-term mental health functioning of physically and sexually abused children: beyond the academic domain.
Community-based population survey data were used to explore whether remaining in school, independent of achievement status, was associated with lower rates of psychopathology in adulthood among participants self-reporting exposure to child physical and/or sexual abuse. Remaining in school, independent of one's achievement status, was significantly associated with a lower probability of experiencing externalizing but not internalizing disorders. Theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed.
Offord Centre for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. swillia@mcmaster.ca
Simon
S
Williams
Harriet
H
MacMillan
Ellen
E
Jamieson
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors