The Potential Benefits of Remaining in School on the Long-Term Mental Health Functioning of Physically and Sexually Abused Children: Beyond the Academic Domain

Community-based population survey data were used to explore whether remaining in school, independent of achievement status, was associated with lower rates of psychopathology in adulthood among participants self-reporting exposure to child physical and/or sexual abuse. Remaining in school, independent of one's achievement status, was significantly associated with a lower probability of experiencing externalizing but not internalizing disorders. Theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed.