Final answer:
Physical abuse and violence in Sarah's childhood played a prevalent role, affecting her mental and physical health, and increasing the risk of long-term behavioral and societal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physical abuse and violence played a prevalent role in Sarah's home life as a child; they had a profound and long-lasting effect on her overall wellbeing. The exposure to such traumatic experiences can result in physical injury, poor health, and mental instability. Alarmingly, around 80 percent of child abuse survivors meet the criteria for psychiatric disorders by age twenty-one. Moreover, there is a 25 percent increase in the likelihood that these individuals will encounter difficulties like substance abuse or engage in risky behaviors, affecting their academic performance and increasing the chances of teen pregnancy and delinquency. Sarah's exposure to physical abuse likely contributed to both immediate and long-term consequences that extended beyond her personal experience to affect society.