Despite these limitations, the study had notable strengths. It relied on official, substantiated reports of childhood maltreatment. Moreover, we were able to examine long-term outcomes using prospective longitudinal data in two distinct developmental periods separately for Blacks and Whites. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that, while the prevalence of childhood maltreatment differs between Black and White boys, the nature of maltreatment does not. In addition, the negative consequences of maltreatment on depression, heavy drinking, and violence are similar across race, at least during adolescence and young adulthood. These results highlight the importance of providing early interventions for victims of childhood maltreatment to eliminate their health-risk behaviors during adolescence. Such interventions may help to reduce long-term negative consequences, such as increased rates of morbidity and mortality [38], for victims of childhood maltreatment.
