Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Self-esteem in abused chemically dependent adolescents.

A A Cavaiola1, M Schiff

  • 1Monmouth Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, Long Branch, NJ.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Chemically dependent adolescents with a history of abuse, whether physical or sexual, exhibit significantly lower self-esteem. This impact on self-worth persists regardless of the specific type of abuse experienced.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Transaldolase Deficiency.

Journal of inherited metabolic disease·2026
Same author

Seizures and electroencephalographic findings in inborn errors of metabolism: Clues to differential diagnosis in the neonatal period, infancy, childhood and adolescence, and review of the literature.

Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape·2025
Same author

Enlargement of the Optic Chiasm: A Novel Imaging Finding in Glutaric Aciduria Type 1.

AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology·2021
Same author

Sensory neuronopathy as a major clinical feature of mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency in adults.

Revue neurologique·2020
Same author

Transition from pediatric to adult care in adolescents with hereditary metabolic diseases: Specific guidelines from the French network for rare inherited metabolic diseases (G2M).

Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie·2018
Same author

[Neonatal weight loss with neurological degeneration].

Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie·2016

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Adolescent Development
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Adolescent substance abuse is a significant public health concern.
  • The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse among chemically dependent youth is substantial.
  • Understanding the psychological impact of abuse on self-esteem is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between childhood abuse (physical and sexual) and self-esteem in chemically dependent adolescents.
  • To compare self-esteem levels across abused chemically dependent, non-abused chemically dependent, and non-abused non-chemically dependent adolescents.
  • To explore potential differences in self-esteem based on the type of abuse experienced.

Main Methods:

  • A random sample of 500 admissions to a residential treatment center was analyzed.
  • 150 cases of physical and sexual abuse were identified and matched with two comparison groups.
  • The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS) was administered to all subjects to measure self-esteem.

Main Results:

  • Abused, chemically dependent adolescents showed significantly lower self-esteem across all measured subscales compared to both non-abused groups.
  • Minimal differences in self-esteem were observed within the abused group based on the specific type of abuse.
  • Aggressive/physically abused adolescents scored higher on the Physical Self subscale, while the incest group scored lower on the Identity subscale.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, and incest, has a devastating and lasting impact on the self-esteem of chemically dependent adolescents.
  • The type of abuse may influence specific aspects of self-concept, but the overall effect on self-esteem is profound.
  • These findings underscore the importance of addressing trauma and abuse in the treatment of adolescent chemical dependency.

Related Experiment Videos