Adolescent Relationship Abuse, Gender Equitable Attitudes, Condom and Contraception Use Self-Efficacy Among Adolescent Girls

• Published in: Journal of interpersonal violence 2022-12, Vol.37 (23-24), p.NP22329-NP22351
• Main Authors: Hill, Ashley V., Hill, Amber L., Jackson, Zachary, Gilreath, Tamika D., Fields, Alana, Miller, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescent girls; Adolescents; Adult; Attitude; Attitudes; Birth control; Condoms; Contraception; Domestic violence; Emotional abuse; Fairness; Female; Females; Gender; Gender Equity; Gender inequality; Gender relations; Girls; Health behavior; Humans; Latent class analysis; Prevention; Risk behavior; Self Efficacy; Sex Fairness; Sexual Behavior; Sexual health; Teenagers; Violence; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/08862605221080976

Introduction: Experiencing adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) negatively impacts sexual health and influences risk behaviors of adolescent girls. ARA may be associated with more inequitable gender attitudes among girls, a potentially modifiable factor in violence prevention. This study examines the association among gender equitable attitudes, experiences of ARA, and sexual behaviors among girls participating in Sisterhood 2.0, a community-based violence prevention program implemented in low resource neighborhoods. Methods: Data were from baseline surveys collected for Sisterhood 2.0 implemented in Pittsburgh, PA. Participant demographics, gender equitable attitudes, self-efficacy to use condoms with partners, and self-efficacy to select appropriate contraception were assessed. A latent class analysis (LCA) estimated probability of responses to nine indicators, including sexual behavior self-efficacy and violence. Multigroup LCA by grade (9–12) was also estimated and analyses were performed with SAS V9.4. Results: Female-identified adolescents ages 13–19 (n = 246) were primarily Black (75%) and evenly distributed across grade in school. Sixty-five percent reported emotional relationship abuse and 31% reported physical abuse within the previous nine months. A three-class solution was best fitting for the LCA. Experiences of violence were related to less equitable gender attitudes, being sexually active, and lower condom and contraception self-efficacy. Younger participants who were sexual minorities with less educated heads of household had more experiences with ARA and less equitable gender attitudes. Discussion: Gender equitable attitudes were lower in adolescent girls with greater experiences of ARA and worse condom and contraception self-efficacy. Integrating discussions about healthy sexual relationships and gender equity may be salient factors in violence prevention.