Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system |
| |
Authors: | Sigrid James Susanne B. Montgomery Laurel K. Leslie Jinjin Zhang |
| |
Affiliation: | aLoma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States;bChild and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, United States;cTufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States |
| |
Abstract: | This study uses data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to provide estimates of sexual risk behaviors for 877 youth, age 11–14 at baseline, in the child welfare system. It examines the association between baseline psychosocial risk and protective factors on engagement in sexual risk behaviors after 36 months. It further compares rates of sexual risk behaviors between youth placed in out-of-home care and those who remained with their biological family. Key findings include a high rate of pregnancy, a high percentage of youth who initiated sexual activity at or before age 13 as well as a limited role of protective factors in moderating sexual risk behaviors. A history of placement into out-of-home care is not significantly associated with greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Implications for intervention development and child welfare policy for this population are discussed. |
| |
Keywords: | Sexual risk behaviors Risk behaviors Foster youth Out-of-home care Child welfare |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|