The Impact of Adolescent Child Abuse on Psychosocial Outcomes

Despite the existing literature on child victimization, the extent of research on youth victimization is limited (Deakin, 2006). This shortage highlights the importance and need for mental health practitioners to examine the impact of early victimization in childhood and its relation to psychosocial outcomes of adolescents. The present quantitative study examined an existing nationally representative dataset of 17,366 adolescents who completed the 2009 Dane County Youth Survey. Adolescents who indicated they were physically or sexually abused were analyzed across a variety of measures that include depression/suicidal ideation, bully victimization, alcohol use, delinquency, and bully perpetration. The purpose of this study was to analyze mean level differences between adolescents who have experienced child abuse within 30 days, more than 30 days but less than a year, more than a year ago, and never, utilizing four separate analyses of variance (MANOVA). MANOVA results indicated that the subgroup of 30 days or less scored significantly higher on all psychosocial outcomes in comparison to the other subgroups. Although the subgroup of 30 days or less had higher rates on all psychosocial outcomes, all other subgroups still displayed significantly higher scores on the outcomes when compared to the adolescents in the never group. Results from this study could further aid in gaining a better understanding of victimization and related mental health outcomes as well as lead to better treatments for victimized youth.Ope

Latino Adults' Access to Mental Health Care: A Review of Epidemiological Studies

Since the early 1980s, epidemiological studies using state-of-the-art methodologies have documented the unmet mental health needs of Latinos adults in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This paper reviews 16 articles based on seven epidemiological studies, examines studies methodologies, and summarizes findings about how Latino adults access mental health services. Studies consistently report that, compared to non-Latino Whites, Latinos underutilize mental health services, are less likely to receive guideline congruent care, and rely more often on primary care for services. Structural, economic, psychiatric, and cultural factors influence Latinos' service access. In spite of the valuable information these studies provide, methodological limitations (e.g., reliance on cross-sectional designs, scarcity of mixed Latino group samples) constrict knowledge about Latinos access to mental health services. Areas for future research and development needed to improve Latinos' access and quality of mental health care are discussed

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Fall2012_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Fall2012_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Spring2013_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationRonald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe