Childhood sexual abuse and sexual risk behavior among men and women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with a wide range of negative outcomes. This study investigated the relation between CSA and sexual risk behavior in 827 patients recruited from an STD clinic. Overall, CSA was reported by 53% of women and 49% of men, and was associated with greater sexual risk behavior, including more sexual partners, unprotected sex, and sex trading. Alcohol use for men, and drug use for women, mediated the relation between CSA and the number of partners in the past three months; intimate partner violence mediated the relation between CSA and the number of episodes of unprotected sex in the past three months for women. These results document the prevalence of CSA among patients seeking care for an STD, and can be used to tailor sexual risk-reduction programs for individuals who were sexually abused.

Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse and subsequent sexual risk behavior: Evidence from controlled studies, methodological critique, and suggestions for research

“…Rotheram-Borus et al (1996) found that men who were sexually abused as children reported more episodes of unprotected sex and had more sexual partners than all females (CSA and non-CSA) and than men who were not sexually abused. In contrast, Senn et al (2006) did not find a significant CSA-by-gender interaction.…”

“…In a sample of patients attending an STD clinic who had engaged in recent sexual risk behavior, Senn et al (2006) found that CSA was associated with a greater number of sexual partners (lifetime and past 3 months), a greater number of episodes of unprotected sex, sex trading, and ever being diagnosed with an STD.…”

“…Recently, researchers have also documented an association between CSA and adverse health outcomes, including sexual health outcomes (e.g., Bartholow et al, 1994;Senn, Carey, Vanable, Coury-Doniger, & Urban, 2006). However, few systematic reviews of this literature have been undertaken.…”

Long-Term Correlates of Childhood Abuse among Adults with Severe Mental Illness: Adult Victimization, Substance Abuse, and HIV Sexual Risk Behavior

“…Childhood is a critical developmental period, and abuse perpetrated during this period may distort an individual's construction of relational schemas (Briere, 2002;Wenninger and Ehlers, 1998), setting the stage for future victimization and HIV risk behavior (Parillo et al, 2001;Senn et al, 2006;van Dorn et al, 2005;Wyatt et al, 2002). Although the relationship between childhood abuse and HIV risk behavior was similar for male and female participants, women were more likely to report childhood abuse and adult victimization.…”

No Longer Silenced: What Learning Resources Do Child Abuse Survivors Want?

“…For instance, in comparison to their non-abused siblings, abused children had poorer nutritional status (Nakou, Adam, Stathacopoulou, & Agathonos, 1982). Additionally, child abuse is associated with an increased number of sexual partners and STI diagnoses as well as an increased likelihood to trade sex for drugs or money (Artime & Peterson, 2010;Senn, Carey, Vanable, Coury-Doniger, & Urban, 2006). In comparison to their non-maltreated peers, women who were abused as children have greater physical disabilities, as well as nearly doubled average self-reported health care costs (Tang, Jamieson, Boyle, Libby, Gafni, & MacMillan, 2006;Thompson et al, 2002).…”