Social Development and Educational Aspirations Among Abused and Nonabused Adolescents

• In Event: 25.019 - Academic Engagement, Achievement, and Risk in Adolescence: School, Family, and Peer Predictors

Abstract

Youth who experienced abuse may have significant differences from non-abused youth in social and academic development. Often research including abused adolescents focuses on youth in foster care, which limits the ability to generalize findings outside the foster care population. The current study compared social development and educational aspirations among abused and non-abused adolescents who reside mainly with biological parents. Results showed few differences between the abused and non-abused groups with regard to social competence, relationships with peers, and future educational aspirations. Examination of results shows demographic similarities that may help explain why social and academic development appear similar between abused and non-abused youth. Results may indicate that family stability can provide important benefits for youth who previously suffered abuse.

Authors

• Mary A Hershberger, The University of New Mexico

• Martin H. Jones, University of New Mexico