Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Among individuals with a history of adverse childhood experiences, risky sexual behavior may represent their attempts to achieve intimate interpersonal connections. Having grown up in families unable to provide needed protection, such individuals may be unprepared to protect themselves and may underestimate the risks they take in their attempts to achieve intimacy. If so, coping with such problems represents a serious public health challenge.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Traumatic Experiences and Drinking Behavior Among Women Attending Alcohol Serving Venues in a South African Township

“…As a result, research has explored the cumulative effect of traumas on psychological and behavioral outcomes. Findings of these studies suggest a dose-response effect of trauma exposure (cumulative traumatic experiences) on the severity of substance use (Bensley et al, 2000;Dube et al, 2002) and other behavioral outcomes (Hillis et al, 2001;Mugavero et al, 2006).…”

The relationship between childhood adversity and food insecurity: ‘It’s like a bird nesting in your head’

“…Adverse childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse, often referred to as 'toxic stress' (43) , are associated with major adult diseases such as diabetes, CVD, depression, anxiety and early mortality (44,45) . In addition, recent research identifies how adversity occurring in childhood and adolescence has a decisive impact on behaviours, choices and social relationships that extend into adulthood (46,47) . Experiencing violence, abuse and neglect can result in states of constant heightened aggressive arousal, withdrawing and/or experiencing social isolation, and struggling to keep boundaries associated with normal social and professional behaviour regarding intimacy, safety and security, and job stability (35,48,49) .…”

Developmental influences on fertility decisions by women: an evolutionary perspective

“…On the one hand, adverse childhood experiences have been associated with an increased risk of sexual risk-taking behaviours [129] and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases [135], which in turn are associated with an increased risk of infertility [136]. At the same time however, childhood adversity has also been associated with earlier menarche, an increased risk of pregnancy at a younger age [86,134,137] and unplanned pregnancies [76], all of which have been associated with increased fertility.…”

“…Behaviours such as smoking, alcohol use, drug use, excessive weight gain and risky sexual behaviours, which are more likely in individuals who were brought up in families characterized by neglect, conflict and abuse [12,39,[127][128][129], have also been associated with a more current-oriented reproductive strategy [130,131] and are likely to be associated with fertility [81,132].…”