Date of Award

1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Second Advisor

Raphael J. Becvar

Third Advisor

Jesse Harris

Abstract

The relationship of marital violence and adolescent abuse/neglect with depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in adolescent females was studied. Sixty four adolescent females from two youth centers and five residential facilities were studied. Subjects ranged in age from 12 to 17, were currently in grades 7 to 11, practiced various religions, were racially mixed (56% white; 37% black; and 7% Hispanic). Most subjects lived with their mother or mother and a male. The subjects were divided into three groups: those who did not witness marital violence (group 1), those who witnessed marital violence occasionally (group 2) and those who witnessed marital violence consistently (group 3) These three groups were matched on nine variables including mean age of adolescents, mean educational level of adolescents, religious affiliations. the ethnic background, the parental status, parents' educational level and parents/ occupation by using ANOVA and chi-square test. A 20 item questionnaire and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS) were given to all the subjects. The subjects' responses were tallied for the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts, and the marital violence and adolescent abuse (physical or sexual) or neglect. The data thus obtained was analyzed to determine the relationship between marital violence and abuse/neglect with depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts

using the chi-square test. The results showed that adolescents females who witnessed marital violence were more commonly abused or neglected by their parents. In abused/neglected adolescent females, marital violence increased the prevalence of suicidal thoughts significantly but not so in adolescents who were not subjected to abuse/neglect. In adolescent females who did not witness marital violence, the presence of abuse/neglect was significantly related to reduction in suicidal thoughts but not so for adolescents who witnessed marital violence. The presence of either marital violence or abuse/neglect affected the prevalence of depressive thoughts. The addition of the other factor (marital violence or abuse/neglect) did not cause any significant additional increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Finally the prevalence of depressive symptoms did not correlate significantly with the prevalence of suicidal thoughts. Possible hypotheses were offered to explain these findings.

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