History of Abuse and Psychological Distress Symptoms Among Female Sex Workers in Two Mexico–U.S. Border Cities

Abstract

This study examined histories of past emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as correlates of current psychological distress using data from 916 female sex workers (FSWs) who were enrolled in a safersex behavioral intervention in Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez, Mexico. We hypothesized that histories of abuse would be associated with higher symptom levels of depression and somatization, and that social support would moderate the relationship. Nonparametric correlations and a series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that all forms of past abuse predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, and physical and sexual abuse were significantly associated with higher levels of somatic symptoms. Social support was also significantly associated with fewer symptoms of distress; however, it was not shown to moderate the relationship between abuse history and distress. Keywordshistory of abuse; psychological distress; Hispanic women; female sex workers The quasi-legal nature of commercial sex work in the U.S.-Mexico border cities of Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez is associated with large numbers of "sexual tourists" from the United States and other foreign countries . Over the past decade, FSWs in these two cities have experienced a dramatic increase in HIV infection (Patterson, Semple, Fraga, Bucardo, De La Torre, Salazar et al.,

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