Studies Illuminate Far-Reaching Ramifications of Abuse of Girls

One-fifth of high school girls in the United States say they have been sexually or physically abused, and 8 percent of teenage girls say they've been forced by a date to have sex against their will, says a new national survey.

Teenage girls who have experienced abuse are far more likely than their peers to become depressed, have suicidal thoughts, use drugs or alcohol, and suffer from eating disorders, according to the survey released this month by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York City-based foundation that supports research on health and social issues.

In the nationwide survey conducted for the Commonwealth Fund by Louis Harris and Associates Inc. between December 1996 and June 1997, 6,748 girls and boys in 5th through 12th grades completed in-class questionnaires on a range of topics, including violence, risky behaviors, mental...