Mara Brendgen of the University of Quebec at Montreal and Brigitte Wanner of the University of Montreal tracked 312 children in primary school to examine the links between peer rejection and verbal abuse by a teacher during childhood.

Verbal abuse by teachers, peer rejection and antisocial behavior among students was assessed each year from kindergarten to fourth grade, while self-esteem and early sexual intercourse were assessed in seventh grade.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found verbal abuse by a teacher during childhood is directly associated with early sexual intercourse and indirectly by its link with delinquent behavior, especially among girls -- after controlling for gender, early deviant characteristics during childhood and pubertal status.

In addition, peer rejection was indirectly associated with a higher risk of early sexual intercourse by its link to self-esteem but only among girls.