Childhood sexual abuse and HIV-related risky sexual behavior among homeless women

• Main Author: Patton, Lisa C
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1998
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Psychotherapy; Public health; Public policy; Welfare; Womens studies
• ISBN: 9780599071650; 0599071656

To date, relatively little research has been conducted with homeless women. The first goal of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and current engagement in HIV-related sexual behaviors, comprised of multiple partners, same-day sex partners, risky partners, sex trade, and unprotected sex, among an urban African-American sample of 120 homeless women. This relationship has been documented across a variety of samples, and we sought to demonstrate the same in homeless women. A second goal of this study was to test a theoretical model that posits specific mediators between childhood sexual abuse and adult risky sexual behavior. Utilizing Finkelhor and Browne's conceptualization of the traumatic impact of childhood sexual abuse, three of the four proposed traumagenic dynamics--traumatic sexualization, powerlessness, and stigmatization--were examined as potentially mediating the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and HIV-related behaviors. Childhood sexual abuse was not significantly associated with the composite risky sexual behavior measure once age was taken into account. Thus, none of the traumagenic dynamics served as mediators, though childhood sexual abuse was associated with stigmatization. Childhood sexual abuse did, however, significantly predict the individual constructs of having risky partners and engaging in sex trade, even after age was considered. Homeless women with sexual abuse histories thus appear to be at greater sexual risk than their non-sexually abused counterparts.