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Physical Abuse and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors: Moderating Effects of Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use

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Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the direct effects of child physical abuse on sexual behaviors and whether mental health problems and substance use moderated the associations between exposure to child physical abuse and sexual behavioral practices among adolescents who participated in the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). The data show statistically significant relationships between physical abuse and risky sexual behaviors for youth who met the clinical criteria for lifetime Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and reported marijuana use. Data from future studies can inform sexual health practice development with adolescents and emerging adults with a history of physical abuse, marijuana use/abuse and PTSD. These findings underscore the importance of exploring presence of symptoms associated with PTSD and marijuana use as part of a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment for physically abused adolescents and emerging adults to determine if they are engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Portland State University, 1800 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR, 97201, USA

    Keva M. Miller

  2. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Harold E. Briggs, Jennifer Elkins, Irang Kim & Orion Mowbray

  3. Department of Social Work, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, LA, USA

    Irang Kim

Authors
  1. Keva M. Miller
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  2. Harold E. Briggs
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  3. Jennifer Elkins
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  4. Irang Kim
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  5. Orion Mowbray
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Correspondence to Keva M. Miller.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

This study was a secondary data analysis and all Internal Review Board procedures were followed in accordance with the ethical standards of responsible committee on human experimentation.

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Miller, K.M., Briggs, H.E., Elkins, J. et al. Physical Abuse and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors: Moderating Effects of Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use. Journ Child Adol Trauma 13, 55–62 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0221-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0221-0

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