Selling and Buying Sex: A Longitudinal Study of Risk and Protective Factors in Adolescence

Abstract

Engaging in trading sex is associated with many co-occurring problems, including elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections. Various dimensions of social support from parents, schools, and mentors may be protective against sex trading and may ameliorate the impact of risk factors. This study analyzes data from respondents to Waves I and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) who had not participated in sex trading for money or drugs in Wave I so that risk and protective factors for first initiations of selling or buying sex could be examined longitudinally. About 2% of the study sample began selling sex and about 2% began buying sex between Wave I and Wave III. The respondent's sex, race/ethnicity, history of sexual abuse, shoplifting, marijuana use, and experiences of homelessness or running away were significant predictors of trading sex (p < 0.05). Being happy at school was associated with lower selling of sex, and feeling part of school was associated with lower buying of sex even after controlling for demographics and risk factors (p < 0.05). Results indicate a need for early intervention for youth who experience sexual abuse or running away. Elements of school connectedness have a protective effect on selling and buying sex. Promoting school connectedness may advance public health goals.

Online Sexual Behaviours Among Swedish Youth : Characteristics, Associations and Consequences

“…In a study by Svensson et al (2013) as many as 78.4% of the young people who had sold sex had been exposed to sexual abuse, and 51% had been exposed to penetrating sexual abuse. In a longitudinal study by Kaestle (2012), childhood sexual abuse and running away from home stood out as critical risk factors for adolescents who had sold sex. In a study by Roe-Sepowitz (2012), emotional abuse was found to increase girls' vulnerability to prostitution and also appeared more important than experiences of childhood physical or sexual abuse.…”

“…In a study by Roe-Sepowitz (2012), emotional abuse was found to increase girls' vulnerability to prostitution and also appeared more important than experiences of childhood physical or sexual abuse. Challenging background factors may help to explain why children or young people engage in risky behaviour such as running away from home (Kaestle, 2012;Pearce, 2003;Roe-Sepowitz, 2012;Roy et al, 2000;Tyler, Hoyt, Whitbeck, & Cauce, 2001), drug abuse (Nadon, Koverola, & Schludermann, 1998;Martin, Hearst, & Widome, 2010), earlier alcohol debut (Svedin & Priebe, 2007), antisocial behaviour (Svedin & Priebe, 2007), and self-harming behaviours .…”

“…Previous studies have also shown a relationship between sexual abuse and sex selling (Kaestle, 2012;Svedin & Priebe 2007;Svensson et al, 2013), however no known studies have examined the relationship between traumatic experiences and other forms of online sexual behaviours. Nevertheless, children who are victims of abuse have been shown to be both more sexually active and more prone to risk taking in general (KendallTackett et al, 1993).…”

Correlates of the Sex Trade among African–American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing: Assessing the Role of Parental Incarceration and Parental Substance Use

“…7 Given the risks associated with trading sex for money, understanding correlates of this behavior may have important implications for the welfare of urban African-American youth. Although, previous research has examined this issue, 8,9 most of this research has focused on runaway or street youth or youth in international settings. [10][11][12] This research has produced invaluable knowledge; however, research on trading sex for money among urban youth who have lost a parent to prison or drug addiction is scarce.…”

País de origen y edad de inicio en la prostitución de mujeres de Centroamérica traficadas en México y Estados Unidos

“…La combinación de pobreza, abuso sexual intrafamiliar y presencia del crimen organizado, en el entorno de las adolescentes, son situaciones de alto riesgo para entrar en las redes de tráfico sexual, como revelan varios estudios (Cobbina y Oselin, 2011;Kaestle, 2012;Acharia, 2014). No es posible obtener datos precisos sobre el número de menores prostituidos/as en México; sin embargo, algunas estimaciones hablan de un intervalo que se extiende de 5 000 a 16 000 personas (Estes y col., 2008; Katsulis, 2010;Andreescu y Zaharie, 2014).…”