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Polyvictimization and depression as predictors of HIV risk behaviors among juvenile offenders

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Abstract

Objective

Understand the relationship between polyvictimization and engagement in HIV risk behaviors. Examine the potential mediating role of depression for this relationship.

Methods

This study utilized data from the Pathways to Desistance study. This study comprised the responses of 1354 juvenile offenders across the 84 months following adjudication for a serious offense. A series of Poisson regression models was utilized to conduct analyses.

Results

Results indicate that participants reporting greater levels of direct polyvictimization engaged in a greater variety of HIV risk behaviors during the following observation period. This effect was not observed for witnessed polyvictimization. Adding depression to the model resulted in full mediation of this effect.

Discussion

Direct polyvictimization was found to be a predictor of HIV risk behaviors, with depression mediating. This indicates the importance of strong screening for trauma histories to determine the presence of polyvictimization in the criminal justice system at intake and reentry.

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Notes

  1. The 6th through 11th waves were the only waves at which HIV risk behavior data were assessed. The fifth wave was chosen because the effects of exposure to violence variables on HIV risk behaviors are lagged one observation period to establish temporal ordering of effects. Baseline data included in analyses consisted of demographic characteristics.

  2. The HIV risk behaviors included in the count variable were: having unprotected sex, injecting drugs, having sex with a partner who injected drugs, sharing a needle with another person, and trading sex for drugs/money/other.

  3. The direct polyvictimization items contributing to the count were: Have you been chased where you thought you might be seriously hurt? Have you been beaten up, mugged, or seriously threatened by another person? Have you been raped, had someone attempt to rape you, or been sexually attacked in some other way? Have you been attacked with a weapon, like a knife, box cutter, or bat? Have you been shot at? Have you been shot? The witnessed polyvictimization items are analogous to this but in the context of seeing the event happen, rather than being the victim, with the addition of one final item: have you seen someone else get killed as a result of violence, like being shot, stabbed, or beaten to death?

  4. The individual deviant peer association items included: How many of your friends have suggested that you should go out drinking with them? How many of your friends have suggested or claimed that you have to get drunk to have a good time? How many of your friends have suggested or claimed that you have to be high on drugs to have a good time? How many of your friends have suggested that you should sell drugs? How many of your friends have suggested that you should steal something? How many of your friends have suggested that you should hit or beat someone up? How many of your friends have suggested that you should carry a weapon?

  5. It should be noted that the actual magnitude of the reduction in the effect between the models was relatively modest (~10%).

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  1. Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Thomas Wojciechowski

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Correspondence to Thomas Wojciechowski.

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Wojciechowski, T. Polyvictimization and depression as predictors of HIV risk behaviors among juvenile offenders. J Public Health (Berl.) 29, 1013–1020 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01221-2

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