Sexual Abuse And Adolescent Mothers
July 26, 2010 by Diane
It has been substantiated over and over again in research that child abuse interrupts the normal healthy development of children. It is no surprise then that young girls searching for the love and affection they are not getting at home are reaching out in inappropriate ways. Since their world is so chaotic, their coping skills are minimal, and they feel powerless, too many young girls are becoming pregnant, thus adding another difficult dimension to their lives.
A study of 535 pregnant and parenting adolescents who were recruited from school and community programs was conducted in the state of Washington. In this study, 62% had experienced contact molestation, attempted rape, or rape prior to their first pregnancy.[1]
On average, the girls were 9.7 years old at first molestation, with 24% reporting that their first such experience occurred at age five or younger. The mean age of the offender was 27.4 years. Over half, 54%, were victimized by a family member. Not surprisingly, the abused young women reported more emotional abuse and physical maltreatment in childhood.
For many pregnant adolescents, a history of physical maltreatment and sexual victimization may have undermined their healthy decision making which, in turn, likely contributed to their pregnancies.
This is just one more aspect of how America’s children and families are impacted by child abuse.
[1] “Adolescent pregnancy: The role of sexual abuse,” National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, Vol. 4, No. 6, November/December 1995.
This entry was posted on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 6:30 am and is filed under Abuse. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 1, 2010 at 11:16 am
Yes, it is typical for abused girls to get pregnant. The reason? They have developed no boundaries because their boundaries have been constantly violated. I know from my own example – I’m an incest survivor, and I got pregnant at 17, gave birth to my daughter at 18. I have blocked out my abuse for most of my adult life until last year when I remembered it all. Now I’m healing by writing it out on my blog – http://www.kseniaoustiougova.com.
August 1, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I am sorry to hear about your abuse, but thank you for commenting. It is hearing from survivors like yourself that will help others to recognize the origins and impact of their trauma.
August 1, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Diane, thank you. My life goal now is speaking about it so that it is heard, and it will hopefully change things in our society. Thank you so much for starting this community!
August 1, 2010 at 12:48 pm
By all of us talking about it, we take it out of the closet and show that we carry no shame. The shame goes were it belongs – on the perpetrators and those who make excuses for them.