The association of maltreatment and socially deviant behavior––Findings from a national study with adolescent students and their parents

In this study, we assessed adolescents’ exposure to violence and maltreatment as well as their socially deviant behavior in a national sample of 700 adolescent students in Tanzania (52% girls). In addition to adolescents’ self-reports, we also included their parents’ perspective (N = 332, 53% females). After controlling for other risk factors, we found significant positive associations between emotional violence by teachers, as well as neglect, emotional and physical violence by parents with adolescents’ self-reported delinquent and rule breaking behavior. Positive associations were also found between self-reported parental use of physical violence with adolescents’ delinquent and rule breaking behavior, as reported by their parents. Furthermore, emotional violence by teachers and physical violence by parents were positively associated with adolescents’ self-reported aggressive behavior. These results suggest a strong association between violence and maltreatment at home and at school with socially deviant behavior among adolescents. Our findings emphasize the need to inform parents, teachers, and the population at large about the potentially adverse consequences associated with violence and maltreatment on the healthy development of children and adolescents.
Source: Mental Health and Prevention - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research