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Vol. 18, No. 7, July 2002
1. Children exposed to maternal violence at risk
2. Tattoos, piercings and other risk-taking behaviors

Children exposed to maternal violence at risk
Children exposed to maternal partner abuse may have more academic and health problems than their non exposed peers, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington. To determine the academic and school health issues of children exposed to maternal intimate partner abuse (either with or without child abuse) relative to their school peers, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 153 children who attended Seattle public schools and whose mothers experienced police or court-reported intimate partner violence between October 1997 and December 1998. The main outcome measures for the study were the occurrence of academic problems, including suspension, expulsion, absenteeism, grade retention and GPA, and self- or personnel referred visits to the school nurse for social/emotional complaints, substance use, or visits that resulted in speech pathology referrals or being sent home from school. The analysis showed that violence exposed children (with and without child abuse) were at significantly greater risk of absenteeism, suspension, a low cumulative GPA and grade retention relative to the non exposed children. The study also found that children exposed to maternal partner abuse were twice as likely as their non exposed peers to have visited the school nurse for social or emotional reasons, and were 1.6 times more likely to have a visit that resulted in being sent home from school. In addition, the researchers report that non abused children exposed to maternal partner abuse were seven times as likely to have had a speech pathology referral relative to the comparison group. "Our results offer a starting point from which we may broaden our understanding of the pervasiveness of the effects of maternal [intimate partner violence] on children's academic functioning and health," write the researchers. They conclude, "a description of the problems exhibited by these children offers the possibility of increasing the likelihood of identifying the woman who experienced the abuse and her children, and promoting referral to appropriate services." Kernic MA, Holt VL, Wolf M, et al.: Academic and school health issues among children exposed to maternal intimate partner abuse. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2002; 156:549-555. Correspondence to: Dr. Kernic, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Campus Box 359960, Seattle, WA 98104-2499; e-mail: mkernic@u.washington.edu

Children exposed to maternal violence at risk

Children exposed to maternal partner abuse may have more academic and health problems than their non exposed peers, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington.

To determine the academic and school health issues of children exposed to maternal intimate partner abuse (either with or without child abuse) relative to their school peers, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 153 children who attended Seattle public schools and whose mothers experienced police or court-reported intimate partner violence between October 1997 and December 1998.

The main outcome measures for the study were the occurrence of academic problems, including suspension, expulsion, absenteeism, grade retention and GPA, and self- or personnel referred visits to the school nurse for social/emotional complaints, substance use, or visits that resulted in speech pathology referrals or being sent home from school.
The analysis showed that violence exposed children (with and without child abuse) were at significantly greater risk of absenteeism, suspension, a low cumulative GPA and grade retention relative to the non exposed children. The study also found that children exposed to maternal partner abuse were twice as likely as their non exposed peers to have visited the school nurse for social or emotional reasons, and were 1.6 times more likely to have a visit that resulted in being sent home from school. In addition, the researchers report that non abused children exposed to maternal partner abuse were seven times as likely to have had a speech pathology referral relative to the comparison group.

"Our results offer a starting point from which we may broaden our understanding of the pervasiveness of the effects of maternal [intimate partner violence] on children's academic functioning and health," write the researchers. They conclude, "a description of the problems exhibited by these children offers the possibility of increasing the likelihood of identifying the woman who experienced the abuse and her children, and promoting referral to appropriate services."

Kernic MA, Holt VL, Wolf M, et al.: Academic and school health issues among children exposed to maternal intimate partner abuse. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2002; 156:549-555. Correspondence to: Dr. Kernic, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Campus Box 359960, Seattle, WA 98104-2499; e-mail: mkernic@u.washington.edu

Tattoos, piercings and other risk-taking behaviors
The presence of tattoos and/or body piercings in adolescents may serve as a potential marker for other risktaking behaviors in some individuals, including drug use and sexual activity,according to a survey of 484 adolescents ages 12 to 22 years old. The 58-question survey contained standard Youth Risk Behavior survey questions on eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior and suicide.To determine the presence of tattoos and body piercings, additional questions were added. Slightly more than 13 percent of adolescents surveyed reported that they had a tattoo, with 5.2 percent reporting more than one tattoo. For body piercings, almost 30 percent of adolescents surveyed reported having had piercings other than ear lobes during their lifetime, and 11.8 percent reported a history of multiple body piercings. The survey revealed that adolescents with tattoos and/or piercings were significantly more likely than adolescents without tattoos or piercings to have engaged in, and to have greater degrees of involvement in, risk-taking behaviors such as gateway drug use (p<0.001), hard drug use (p<0.001), sexual activity (p<0.001), disordered eating behavior (p=0.026) and suicide (p=0.006). The researchers also found that involvement with hard drugs, such as cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy, increased in adolescents as the number of body piercings (but not tattoos) they had increased. "The presence of tattoos and body piercings in adolescents does not necessarily indicate risk-taking behavior in particular individuals; however, the presence of such should alert parents, teachers, and health care providers of the possibility of greater health risk in adolescents with tattoos and/or body piercings, and appropriate care should be implemented," conclude the researchers. Carroll ST, Riffenburgh RH, Roberts TA, et al.: Tattoos and body piercings as indicators of adolescent risk-taking behaviors. Pediatrics 2002; 109:1021-1027. Correspondence to: Dr. Carroll, Adolescent Medicine Division, Department of Pediatrics, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134-5000; e-mail:sean.carroll@haw.tamc.amedd.army.mil.

Tattoos, piercings and other risk-taking behaviors

The presence of tattoos and/or body piercings in adolescents may serve as a potential marker for other risktaking behaviors in some individuals, including drug use and sexual activity,according to a survey of 484 adolescents ages 12 to 22 years old.

The 58-question survey contained standard Youth Risk Behavior survey questions on eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior and suicide.To determine the presence of tattoos and body piercings, additional questions were added.
Slightly more than 13 percent of adolescents surveyed reported that they had a tattoo, with 5.2 percent reporting more than one tattoo. For body piercings, almost 30 percent of adolescents surveyed reported having had piercings other than ear lobes during their lifetime, and 11.8 percent reported a history of multiple body piercings.

The survey revealed that adolescents with tattoos and/or piercings were significantly more likely than adolescents without tattoos or piercings to have engaged in, and to have greater degrees of involvement in, risk-taking behaviors such as gateway drug use (p<0.001), hard drug use (p<0.001), sexual activity (p<0.001), disordered eating behavior (p=0.026) and suicide (p=0.006). The researchers also found that involvement with hard drugs, such as cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy, increased in adolescents as the number of body piercings (but not tattoos) they had increased.

"The presence of tattoos and body piercings in adolescents does not necessarily indicate risk-taking behavior in particular individuals; however, the presence of such should alert parents, teachers, and health care providers of the possibility of greater health risk in adolescents with tattoos and/or body piercings, and appropriate care should be implemented," conclude the researchers.

Carroll ST, Riffenburgh RH, Roberts TA, et al.: Tattoos and body piercings as indicators of adolescent risk-taking behaviors. Pediatrics 2002; 109:1021-1027. Correspondence to: Dr. Carroll, Adolescent Medicine Division, Department of Pediatrics, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134-5000; e-mail:sean.carroll@haw.tamc.amedd.army.mil.

The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, July 2002
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