Knowledge of at-risk behaviour in adolescents having experienced sexual aggression
Although many authors have postulated a connection between sexual abuse and many risk behaviors, no review of empirical studies on adolescent girls has described or analysed the existing knowledge emerging from the literature on this topic. A review of 47 empirical studies on the at-risk behaviors of sexually abused adolescent girls was therefore completed. Alcohol and drug use, sexual at-risk behaviors, delinquent acts and self-mutilation were the at-risk behaviors under focus. On the whole, it appears that sexual abused adolescent girls are more likely to present at-risk behaviors than their non abused counterparts. However, results on delinquent acts and self-mutilation will have to be replicated before they can be considered solid given the smaller number of studies and the different methodologies used in the studies. Abuse and family characteristics appear to influence the presence of at-risk behaviors and constitute risk and protection factors. The functions of the at-risk behaviors in the lives of adolescent girls as well as models by which these behaviors can be understood are discussed. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are also underlined.