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Biomedical subjects

S B Sorenson

Publications and source records attributed to S B Sorenson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Estimating the occurrence of child maltreatment and risk-factor effects: benefits of a mixed-design strategy in epidemiologic research.

Despite the large volume of literature on child abuse and neglect generated over the past two decades, there has been relatively little comprehensive discussion of the limitations of different study designs for achieving major epidemiologic research goals. Although some improvements have been made in conventional research designs, there have been few efforts to develop new approaches. This article discusses the methodologic limitations of four observational study designs--ecologic, case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort--that dominate the child abuse and neglect literature; identifies key features of an "ideal" study of child maltreatment; and proposes a new mixed-design research strategy. The major advantage of the proposed strategy is that it greatly improves the ability to identify cases of child maltreatment from a well-defined population at risk representing diverse segments of the US population.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Violence and women's health. The role of epidemiology.

Survival, a basic indicator of health, indicates that violence is a threat to the health of women. Furthermore, the quality of women's lives is compromised by the threat of violence, which creates a sense of chronic endangerment. "Stranger danger" is a misplaced emphasis; community-based investigations in the past decade have underscored that women are at highest risk of homicide, physical assault, and sexual assault at the hands of a man they know, often their husband or male intimate. Potential contributions of the science of epidemiology are identified and the relative absence of epidemiologists working in the field is noted. Violence against women may be an important, although often ignored, confounding variable or effect modifier in studies of women's health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Traumatic child death and documented maltreatment history, Los Angeles.

OBJECTIVES: Child abuse is a presumed but largely untested risk factor for child homicide. This research investigated the social and child protective service history of child homicide victims. METHODS: A pairwise matched case-control design was used to assess documented child maltreatment as a risk factor for homicide vs unintentional injury death. Homicide victims aged 0 to 14 years were identified through Los Angeles Police Department case summaries. Control subjects (children who died of an unintentional injury) were matched to case subjects (children who died from homicide) by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and date of death. Case and control subjects were linked with county service records to determine any known history of maltreatment. RESULTS: A total of 220 children were homicide victims during 1978 through 1987 in the city of Los Angeles. Only one in six children who died (of homicide or unintentional injury) or his/her family was known to county social or child protective services prior to the death. Recorded history of child protective services was associated with homicide victimization (adjusted odds ratio = 3.40, 95% confidence interval = 1.25, 9.27). CONCLUSIONS: Current service systems need assistance in identifying and protecting children at high risk of homicide.

Accidents↗
PubMed1994

Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by male intimates: experiences of women in Japan.

This article examines the nature of violence (physical, emotional, and sexual) perpetrated by Japanese men against their female intimates. Data were collected in a nationwide mail questionnaire survey with a convenience sample of 796 women between July and December, 1992. Most respondents were currently married and working full-time; average age was 43.5 years. Over three fourths reported at least one type of violence perpetrated by their male intimate partner. These Japanese women reported a wide range of abuse--from a slap to an assault with a deadly weapon, from verbal ridicules to restriction of social activities, and from incompliance with contraception to forced, violent sex. About two thirds of the most serious physically violent incidents resulted in injury. Sociocultural factors unique to Japanese women's experiences of male violence are identified and discussed along with their implications for prevention and intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Race/ethnicity patterns in the homicide of children in Los Angeles, 1980 through 1989.

This study investigated age, sex, and race/ethnicity risk patterns for homicide based on 246 children (newborn to 14 years old) who were murdered in the city of Los Angeles 1980 through 1989. Rates of homicide are higher for newborn to 4-year-olds than for 5- to 14-year-olds. Boys and girls have similar rates of homicide at young ages; among 5- to 14-year-olds, however, boys have higher rates. Characteristics of the victim, suspect, and event were fairly consistent across victim race/ethnicity. Rates vary by the victim's race/ethnicity; paralleling patterns among adults, rates of homicide are lowest for non-Hispanic White, higher for Hispanic, and highest for Black children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Depression in the community: an investigation into age of onset.

Age of onset of any lifetime depressive disorder was investigated to identify periods of the life course associated with increased risk of depression. In this large community-based sample of adults, one fourth of those with a major depressive disorder at some point in their lives reported onset during childhood or adolescence; over one half reported onset by age 25. Women were likely to have an earlier onset of depression than were men; non-Hispanic Whites and Mexican Americans born in the United States reported earlier onset than did Mexican-American immigrants. Age of onset did not appear to be consequential in terms of the number, type, or severity of the symptoms occurring during the worst depressive episode or with the probability of relapse. These findings imply that age of onset may contribute to group differences in prevalence rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Transgenerational patterns of suicide attempt.

The clinical assumption that suicide attempts demonstrate familial aggregation was examined with data from a survey of 2,304 community residents. Approximately 1 in 15 persons (6.6%) in the general population was aware that a parent, sibling, son, or daughter had attempted suicide. Self-reports of suicide attempts were more common among persons with than without a family history of suicide (13.0% vs. 2.8%, p less than .05). Nearly 1 in 4 persons who attempted suicide (24.8%) reported a family history of suicide. In addition to being female and unmarried, respondent mental disorder, parent mental disorder, and parent suicide attempt each exerted independent direct effects on the risk of respondent suicide ideation. Parent attempt was not significantly associated with respondent suicide attempt when a host of risk factors were held constant. Possible mediating factors are discussed, focusing on social isolation as an underlying factor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Repeated sexual victimization.

Patterns of repeated victimization were investigated in a large community-based survey about sexual assault. Multiple victimization was common: of the 433 sexually assaulted respondents, two-thirds reported more than one incident; the average number of incidents per person was 3.2. Single- and multiple-incident victims of sexual assault did not differ on a wide range of variables including demographics, mental disorders, and general functioning (e.g., suicide attempts, family violence). Thus, once an initial victimization occurred, personal characteristics of the victim were not related to risk for subsequent sexual assault. Additional research which obtains more specific information on each event is needed to strengthen confidence in these findings. Considerations for research on multiple victimization are discussed. Further research may benefit from exploring contextual factors and using longitudinal research methods.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Self-reports of spousal violence in a Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white population.

As part of a survey of Los Angeles households, 1,243 Mexican Americans and 1,149 non-Hispanic whites were surveyed about their experiences of spousal violence. Questions to assess violence included both perpetration (whether they had been physically violent toward a partner) and victimization (whether they had been the victim of sexual assault by a partner). Over one-fifth (21.2%) of the respondents indicated that they had, at one or more times in their lives, hit or thrown things at their current or former spouse or partner. Spousal violence rates for Mexican Americans born in Mexico and non-Hispanic whites born in the United States were nearly equivalent (20.0% and 21.6%, respectively); rates were highest for Mexican Americans born in the United States (30.9%). While overall rates of sexual assault were lower for Mexican Americans, one-third of the most recent incidents reported by Mexico-born Mexican-American women involved the husband and approximated rape.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Resistance to sexual assault: who resists and what happens?

To determine who resists sexual assault and what happens, data were examined from a probability sample of 3,132 adult community residents of Los Angeles, California. Seventy-five per cent of the respondents reporting an assault (n = 365) indicated that they had attempted to resist their most recent assault; talking was the most frequently used resistance strategy. The strongest predictor to emerge in the multivariate analyses of resistance was timing of assault: respondents assaulted only in childhood were less likely to resist than either respondents assaulted only in adulthood, or respondents assaulted in both phases. Univariate analyses indicated that resistance reduced the probability of sexual contact, however multivariate analyses suggested that assailant use of force was the most important determinant of assault outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in five US communities.

The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder was measured in five US communities among more than 18,500 persons in residential settings as part of the National Institute of Mental Health (Bethesda, Md)--sponsored Epidemiologic Catchment Area program. Lifetime prevalence rates ranged from 1.9% to 3.3% across the five Epidemiologic Catchment Area sites for obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed without DSM-III exclusions and 1.2% to 2.4% with such exclusions. These rates are about 25 to 60 times greater than had been estimated on the basis of previous studies of clinical populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Sexual assault history and use of health and mental health services.

A history of sexual assault may be associated with increased current use of mental health and medical services because of the psychologically and physically disruptive consequences of assault. To test this hypothesis, we estimated rates of mental health and medical services use among 2560 randomly selected community residents, 343 of whom had been sexually assaulted. Sexual assault was associated with seeking both forms of care. Controls for demographic variables, psychiatric diagnosis, health status, and insurance suggested that assault increases use indirectly, through poor mental and physical health. Uninsured, assaulted respondents were especially likely to consult medical providers. Respondents assaulted during childhood were particularly likely to seek mental health care. Assault was more common among mental health service users than nonusers, and among women using medical services compared to female nonpatients. The high prevalence of assault among service users underscores the need for providers to recognize and treat sexual assault-related problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Suicide ideation and attempts in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites: demographic and psychiatric disorder issues.

This study examined the lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts in a community sample of 1,425 Hispanics and 1,309 non-Hispanic whites. The relationship between psychiatric disorder (as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, or DIS) and suicide ideation and attempts was also examined. Fewer Hispanics reported suicide ideation (8.8% vs. 18.9%; p less than .001) and suicide attempts (3.2% vs. 5.1%; p less than .001) than non-Hispanic whites. More women of both ethnic groups reported suicide attempts than men of either ethnic group (p less than .001). Disrupted marital bonds were typically associated with higher rates of ideation and attempts. Individuals with any DIS diagnosis were more than four times as likely to think about killing themselves (p less than .01) and more than seven times as likely to attempt suicide (p less than .01) as those without a psychiatric disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of suicide attempts in a Mexican-American population: prevention implications of immigration and cultural issues.

Self-reported suicide ideation and suicide attempts were examined among 2,393 Mexican-Americans (706 born in Mexico, 538 born in the United States) and non-Hispanic whites (1,149 born in the United States). Mexican-Americans born in Mexico reported significantly lower age- and gender-adjusted lifetime rates of suicide thoughts (4.5%, 2.7-6.3%) than Mexican-Americans born in the United States (13.0%, 10.0-15.9%), who reported significantly lower rates than non-Hispanic whites born in the United States (19.2%, 17.4-21.0%). Adjusted rates of suicide attempt were lowest among Mexican-Americans born in Mexico (1.6%, 0.6-2.6%) and higher among both Mexican-Americans (4.8%, 2.4-7.2%) and non-Hispanic whites (4.4%, 3.4-5.4%) born in the United States. Rates were not affected by degree of acculturation when immigration status was controlled. High schools and the Catholic church are suggested as sites for programs designed to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among Mexican-Americans.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1987

The prevalence of childhood sexual assault. The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Project.

This study reports childhood sexual assault data collected as part of a community-based population study on mental health. A household sample, stratified by catchment area, was selected using a two-stage probability technique. A total of 3,132 adults (18 years or older) were interviewed between January 1983 and August 1984. The sample was 46% Hispanic and 42% non-Hispanic white, 47% male and 53% female. Childhood sexual assault was defined as incidents before age 16 years which involved pressure or force for sexual contact. The prevalence (weighted for sampling design and nonresponse) of childhood sexual assault for the total sample was 5.3%. Rates were higher for non-Hispanic whites (8.7%) compared with Hispanics (3.0%), women (6.8%) compared with men (3.8%), and younger persons at the time of interview (6.5%) compared with older persons (3.9%). Most assaults were by an acquaintance and occurred for the first time around age 10 years. Data from a subsample of assaulted respondents show that childhood sexual assaults are not usually accomplished through physical aggression, but rather through persuasion, and through the psychological threat of the assailant being bigger or stronger. Research is needed on the natural history and sequelae of childhood sexual assault.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The prevalence of adult sexual assault. The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Project.

Data were collected as a supplement to the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area project, one of five field sites of a National Institute of Mental Health-initiated program. The authors used a two-stage probability sampling technique to interview 3,132 Los Angeles residents of two mental health catchment areas during the period January 1983-August 1984. Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites were about equally represented in the sample, as were males and females. Respondents were asked, "In your lifetime has anyone ever tried to pressure or force you to have sexual contact? By sexual contact I mean their touching your sexual parts, your touching their sexual parts, or sexual intercourse?" Persons who reported an assault were asked additional questions, including information about the most recent assault. Lifetime prevalence of sexual assault during adulthood (at or after age 16 years) was estimated at 10.5% for the entire sample. Women, non-Hispanic whites, and young people (less than age 40 years) reported higher rates of sexual assault than men, Hispanics, and older people. Highest rates were reported by young non-Hispanic white women with some college education (26.3%). In the most recent sexual assault, three-fourths of respondents knew their assailant, over half experienced harm or the threat of harm, and half experienced sexual contact including but not limited to intercourse.

Adolescent↗