U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Pathways to Sexual Risk Taking Among Female Adolescent Detainees

NCJ Number
236527
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 40 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2011 Pages: 945-957
Author(s)
Vera Lopez; Albert Kopak; Alyssa Robillard; Mary Rogers Gillmore; Rhonda C. Holliday; Ronald L. Braithwaite
Date Published
August 2011
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article discusses sexual risk taking among female delinquents represents a significant public health problem.
Abstract
Sexual risk taking among female delinquents represents a significant public health problem. Research is needed to understand the pathways leading to sexual risk taking among this population. This study sought to address this issue by identifying and testing two pathways from child maltreatment to non-condom use among 329 White and 484 African-American female adolescent detainees: a relational pathway and a substance use coping pathway. The relational pathway indicated that child maltreatment would be related to non-condom use via depressive self-concept and condom use self-efficacy. The substance use coping pathway suggested that depressive self-concept and alcohol-based expectancies for sexual enhancement would mediate the relationship between child maltreatment and non-condom use. As hypothesized, the relational pathway variables were associated with one another in the expected directions; however, evidence of mediation was not found. Support for mediation was found for the substance use coping pathway. Exploratory across group comparison analysis indicated that the relational pathway was significant for White girls whereas the substance use coping pathway was significant for African-American girls. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed. (Published Abstract)

Grant Number(s)
R01 AA 11767
P20 MD002316-03
Sponsoring Agency
US Dept of Health and Human Services
Address

5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304, Rockville, MD 20892-9304, United States

National Ctr on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Address

National Institutes of Health, 6706 Democracy Blvd, Suite 800, MSC-5465, Bethesda, MD 20892-5465, United States

Publication Format
Article
Publication Type
Report (Study/Research)
Language
English
Country
United States of America