Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

Publisher

American Orthopsychiatric Association

Publication Date

7-2008

Volume

78

Issue

3

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry and Psychology

First Page

313

Last Page

321

Abstract

Using a nationally representative sample of 4,008 adolescents, this study examines gender differences in violence exposure, major depressive episode (MDE) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and characteristics of violence incidents. It was hypothesized that there would be gender differences in the types of violence exposure reported as well as the prevalence of MDE and PTSD; and that gender would moderate the relationship between violence exposure and mental health outcomes. Results indicated significant gender differences in rates of violence exposure, PTSD and MDE. Additionally, gender was a moderating variable in the relation between sexual assault and PTSD, but not in the other violence exposure-mental health relations examined. It thus appears that the pathways for developing PTSD may be different for male and female victims of sexual abuse. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.

Keywords

gender, trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse, National Survey of Adolescents

DOI

10.1037/a0014056

Comments

Author manuscript. The definitive version is available at Wiley Online.

Rights

©2008 American Orthopsychiatric Association

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