Psychological correlates of physical abuse in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

Objective: To understand the associations between adolescent family physical maltreatment and psychiatric morbidity or psychological problems. Methods: questionnaire survey on 489 secondary school students in Form 2 from 10 schools in Hong Kong. Questions regarding three forms of family physical maltreatment were measured: corporal punishment within the past 6 months, beaten without any reason within the past 6 months, or ever been beaten to injury. Main Result: Corporal punishment was not associated with the psychological variables after Bonferroni adjustment was made. Those who experienced the two other forms of physical maltreatment had significant and strong associations with positive Achenbach CBCL outcome (OR from 3.26 to 3.27), drug abuse problems (OR from 2.60 to 20.38), self-injurious behaviors (OR from 3.34 to 8.47) and poor perceived parental support. In addition, those who had ever been beaten to injury scored significantly lower in the “physical appearance” and “behavioral conduct” subscales of the Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Conclusions: In Hong Kong, some forms of family physical maltreatment (beaten for no reason and beaten to injury) were associated with a number of psychiatric/psychological problems. Further studies should be carried out to clarify whether the relationships are causal in nature. Objetivo: Comprender las asociaciones entre el maltrato fı́sico familiar adolescente y la morbilidad psiquiátrica o problemas psicológicos. Métodos: Un cuestionario encuesta a 489 estudiantes de Escuela Secundaria en la Forma 2 de 10 escuelas en Hong Kong. Las preguntas relacionadas con tres formas de maltrato familiar fı́sico fueron medidas: castigo corporal en los 6 meses pasados, golpeado sin ninguna razón en los 6 meses pasados, o haber sido golpeado hasta herirlo. Principal Resultado: El castigo corporal no estuvo asociado con las variables psicológicas después de realizarse el ajuste Bonferroni. Aquellos que sufrieron las otras dos formas de maltrato fı́sico tuvieron fuertes y significativas asociaciones con el resultado positivo de Achenbach CBCL (OR de 3.26 a 3.27), problemas de abuso de drogas (OR de 2.60 a 20.38), conductas autodestructivas (OR de 3.34 a 8.47), y percepción de apoyo parental pobre. Además, aquellos que habı́an sido alguna vez golpeados hasta herirlos obtuvieron puntajes significativamente más bajos en “apariencia fı́sica” y “conducta” de las subescalas del Perfil de Auto-Percepción para Adolescentes