Psychosocial correlates of U.S. adolescents who report a history of forced sexual intercourse

Abstract

Background A comprehensive assessment of the psychosocial risk profiles of adolescents who report forced sexual intercourse remains an important gap in the literature, precluding meaningful discussion of the implications of such experiences. Methods Ninth through twelfth grade high school adolescents(n = 13,601) who completed the 2001 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey were participants. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine all significant independent relationships. Results The lifetime prevalence of forced sex for females and males was 10.2% and 5.1%, respectively. For the overall sample, feeling sad/hopeless(odds ratio [OR] 1.9), having considered (OR 2.1) or attempted (OR 1.4) suicide, being a victim of physical dating violence (OR 2.8) heavy cigarette use (OR 1.4), binge drinking (OR 0.7), having multiple recent sexual partners (OR 8.3) and unprotected sex (OR 1.7) were correlated with a history of forced sex. Among females, associations were found among sad/hopeless feelings (OR 1.6), having considered suicide(OR 2.2), fighting (OR 1.3), physical dating violence (OR 2.1) heavy cigarette use (OR 1.8), multiple sexual partners (OR 9.3) , alcohol/or drug use before sex (OR 1.6) and unprotected sex (OR 1.5). Among males, associations were found among sad/hopeless feelings (OR 1.8), attempted suicide (OR 1.9), gun carrying (OR 1.8), physical dating violence (OR 4.3), multiple sexual partners (OR 7.8), unprotected sex (OR 1.9), and other ethnicity (OR 3.3). Conclusions Although a history of forced sexual intercourse affects a small number of adolescents, it is an important public health issue. The psychological and behavioral correlates of forced sexuality suggest that these youth have been harmed and may further place themselves in harm’s way. Furthermore, the profiles of adolescent females and males who report such experiences are distinct in ways that warrant their independent examination and attention.