Conclusion
Consistent with theory and past research, the findings of the current study show that violent victimization during adolescence has a pervasive effect on problem outcomes in adulthood. It increases the odds of being a perpetrator or victim of violence in adulthood, including felony assault perpetration and victimization (by factors of 3.5 and 2.3, respectively) and domestic violence perpetration and victimization (by a factor of 1.7). It nearly doubles the odds of problem drug use in adulthood and of ever experiencing PTSD. It also increases the odds of adult property offending. The risks posed by violent victimization during adolescence persist even when controls are introduced for sociodemographic characteristics and prior problems in adolescence.
Frequency of adolescent violent victimization is also a risk factor for failure to make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. This effect is found even under broad, relatively minimal definitions of "success" (such as good interpersonal relationships, lack of welfare dependency, and reasonably conforming attitudes and behavior) and is above and beyond the effect of other risk factors for lack of success, such as minority race/ethnicity, lower socioeconomic background, adolescent violent offending, and adolescent drug use.
In addition, victimization, particularly violent victimization, has a substantial impact in terms of financial loss (in property victimization), physical injury (in violent victimization), and short-term associations with other problem behaviors and outcomes. These effects are found during both adolescence and adulthood.
Considered in combination, three factors—the direct costs of victimization in terms of financial loss and physical injury, the high rate of violent victimization in adolescence, and the pervasive effects of adolescent violent victimization in later life—strongly suggest the need for interventions to reduce violent victimization during adolescence. If such interventions are successful, the result should be substantial financial, health, and behavioral benefits in both the short and long term.
| Previous | Contents | Next |
 |
|
| Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization |
|