Examining Links between Sexual Risk Behaviors and Dating Violence Involvement as a Function of Sexual Orientation

• Published in: Journal of pediatric & adolescent gynecology 2013-08, Vol.26 (4), p.212-218
• Main Authors: Hipwell, A.E., PhD, Stepp, S.D., PhD, Keenan, K., PhD, Allen, A., BS, Hoffmann, A., BA, Rottingen, L., BS, McAloon, R., BS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bisexuality - statistics & numerical data; Dating violence; Female; Heterosexuality - statistics & numerical data; Homosexuality, Female - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Minority health; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pediatrics; Risk-Taking; Sexual behavior; Sexuality - statistics & numerical data; Unsafe Sex - statistics & numerical data; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Violence - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1083-3188; 1873-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.002

Abstract Study Objective To examine the association between dating violence perpetration and victimization and sexually risky behaviors among sexual minority and heterosexual adolescent girls. Design Adolescent girls reported on sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and risk-taking, and their use of, and experience with, dating violence in the past year. Data were analyzed using multinomial regression adjusted for race, poverty, living in a single parent household, and gender of current partner to examine (1) whether sexual minority status was associated with sexual risk behaviors after sociodemographic correlates of sexual risk were controlled; and (2) whether dating violence context accounted for elevated risk. Setting Urban, population-based sample of girls interviewed in the home. Participants 1,647 adolescent girls (38% European American, 57% African American, and 5% other) aged 17 years. Over one-third of the sample lived in poverty. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measure Sexual risk-taking. Results Sexual minority status differentiated girls engaging in high sexual risk-taking from those reporting none, after controlling for sociodemographic and relationship characteristics. Dating violence perpetration and victimization made unique additional contributions to this model and did not account for the elevated risk conferred by sexual minority status. Conclusions Sexual minority girls (SMGs) were more likely than heterosexual girls to report high sexual risk-taking and teen dating violence victimization. As with heterosexual girls, sexual risk-taking among SMGs was compounded by dating violence, which was not explained by partner gender. Adolescent girls' risky sexual behavior may be reduced by interventions for teen dating violence regardless of sexual minority status.