NCJ Number
238104
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2012 Pages: 75-80
Date Published
January 2012
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study explored the association between a history of childhood sexual abuse and the increased odds of having transactional sex in adolescents transitioning out of foster care.
Abstract
The study found that youth in the sample who reported a history of sexual molestation or a history of rape had significantly increased odds of having had transactional sex both ever and in the past year, compared to youth with no history of childhood sexual abuse. For female participants in the study, the odds ratios were larger in magnitude and continued to remain significant for the relationship between sexual molestation and having had transactional sex both ever or in the past year; for males, the odds ratios were smaller and non-significant. The study also found that age of the participant and the number of group homes in which the participant reported having lived were significantly related to one or both of the transactional sex outcomes. This study explored the association between a history of childhood sexual abuse and the increased odds of having transactional sex in adolescents transitioning out of foster care. Data for the study were obtained from Waves 1 and 2 of the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth, a longitudinal study of youth transitioning out of the foster care system from three Midwestern States: Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Information was collected on a history of sexual molestation and rape, and having had transactional sex ever and in the past year. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between childhood sexual abuse and transactional sex. The analyses found that both sexual molestation and rape increased the likelihood that the youth would participate in transactional sex. Implications for policymakers and health care providers are discussed. Tables and references