Abstract
ABSTRACTUnderage sex work (USW) has been shown to adversely affect adolescents’ physical and psychological wellbeing; however, little is known about the lives of sex-working adolescents or their needs for services. This study involved semi-structured interviews with eight adolescents who began sex work between the ages of 12 and 16. It was found that caregivers’ characteristics, attachment disruption and early trauma intersected with participants’ wider social environments, specifically with their peer relationships and limited access to services, to create a culture of chaos and avoidant coping. These combined factors constitute significant barriers to service access, and require considered navigation of relational and environmental barriers as well as appropriate management of psychological distress and trauma symptoms to enable effective engagement with services.
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