Prevalence and associated characteristics of youth who trade sex in a representative sample of high school students

Abstract

Introduction: Our understanding of youths' sex trading predominantly stems from nonrepresentative studies with high-risk populations (e.g. homeless/runaway youth). The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence and associated characteristics of youth who report sex trading (compared to those who do not) in a representative sample of high school students. Methods: Data comes from the 2018 Youth Assessment, a cross-sectional survey administered to 9th through 12th graders across 24 high schools in Dane County, a predominantly urban area in Wisconsin, U.S.A. All youth who answered the question, "have you ever had sexual contact in order to stay safe or to get something like a place to stay, money, gifts, alcohol or drugs?" were included for secondary data analysis (n = 13,714). Participants were 70% White, 50% female/ 47% male, and 90% minors. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: 2.47% of youth reported sex trading, of whom 91% were minors. Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences across demographics, economic instability, behavioral health and substance use, delinquency, and romantic/sexual behaviors. Multivariate results suggested that students who reported substance use, cutting class, 3 or more out-of-school suspensions, knowing a friend involved in a gang, dating violence, foster care involvement, or identifying as LGBTQ+ were more likely to report sex trading. Conclusions: Although the causal order of characteristics analyzed in relation to the sex trading is not known, these findings have important implications for sex trading prevention, assessments, and intervention, particularly among youth with marginalized identities and adverse experiences.

Physical Disabilities and Low Cognitive Ability Increase Odds of Minor Sex Exchange among Adolescent Males in the United States

“…However, those with at least one parent in the highest education category (college graduate) were significantly less likely to experience MSE. As parental education is a proxy for socioeconomic status in the Add Health data, this suggests an association between household income and MSE that is consistent with previous literature, which proposes that poverty is a risk factor for MSE as it creates instability and vulnerability via unmet needs and a stressful environment (Gerassi et al, 2021;Laird et al, 2020). As poverty has also been linked to disability, it was crucial to include this proxy measure for income to account for potential confounding (Palmer, 2011).…”

“…There may be concerns about the age of the Add Health sample used for these analyses, as it was collected from participants in the mid-1990s; however, the risk factor and MSE prevalence findings demonstrated here and in other Add Health publications are in many ways similar to another population-based analysis which sampled adolescents in 2018 (Franchino-Olsen et al, 2021;Gerassi et al, 2021;Kaestle, 2012). Comparable to the approximately 4% of the male Add Health sample in this analysis who experienced MSE, Gerassi and colleagues (2021) analyzed a 2018 sample of school-enrolled adolescents and found that approximately 2-3% of their complete sample engaged in commercial sex trade.…”

“…Using a population-based sample, these analyses provide the first evidence that severe physical disability and low cognitive ability are associated with MSE for male adolescents in the United States. These results add to the evidence that pushes back on the assumption that most individuals experiencing MSE maltreatment and exploitation are girls and highlight the potential intersectional nature of vulnerability for MSE that exists for those who are male and disabled (Gerassi et al, 2021;McNeal, 2020;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012;Robert & Willis, 2013). Our findings build on previous examinations of the links between vulnerabilities created by disability and sexual violence and spotlight the need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies for males with disabilities who seem to be at heightened risk for MSE relative to their peers.…”

Associations Among Violence Victimization and/or Exploitation of Minors and Later Young Adulthood Violence

“…Despite the age of the data, minors may continue to be sufficiently unprotected from abuse and exploitation as in the mid-1990s, especially because many of the factors that are linked to or create trafficking vulnerability (e.g., racism, poverty, child abuse and maltreatment) remain social concerns. Findings from studies using Add Health data to investigate risk and protective factors for and the outcomes stemming from MSE are similar to results from DMST samples collected more recently, which seems encouraging and may indicate the continued relevance of the Add Health measures to the DMST field (Edwards et al, 2006;Fedina et al, 2019;Franchino-Olsen, 2019;Gerassi et al, 2021;Havlicek et al, 2016;Kaestle, 2012;Le et al, 2018;Ulloa et al, 2016). However, the age of the data should not be overlooked as a limitation.…”

An Exploration of Sex Trading for Compensation and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Screening Practices: Perspectives of Young People who have Experienced Sex Trading and/or Homelessness

“…Sex trading for financial compensation among youth is a public health concern ( Gerassi et al, 2021 ; Krisch et al, 2019 ; Martin et al, 2020 ; Ulloa et al, 2016b). In the U.S., sex trading (or sex trade) typically refers to the exchange of any sexual act for any type of financial compensation and is used in many U.S. studies to determine prevalence and associations ( Franchino-Olsen et al, 2021 ; Kaestle, 2012 ; Martin, 2013 ).…”