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Mental Health and Associated Sexual Health Behaviours in a Sample of Young People Attending a Music Festival in Melbourne, Victoria

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Abstract

Poor mental health has previously been associated with risky sexual health behaviours among young people internationally and in clinical samples, but little is known about this relationship in non-clinical settings. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of 1345 Australians aged 15–29. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sexual health behaviours independently associated with recent poor mental health including contraception use, STI testing, sexting and age at first sexual intercourse. Recent poor mental health was reported by 29.7 % of participants and independently associated with female gender (OR 1.8; 95 % CI 1.4–2.4), not identifying as heterosexual (OR 3.0; 95 % CI 2.1–4.4) and young age at first sexual intercourse among female participants (OR 1.4; 95 % CI 1.0–2.0). Results suggest mental health is largely driven by variables other than sexual health behaviours, although youth mental health services should consider inclusion of sexual health promotion within the scope of their services.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to this work of the Victorian Operational Infrastructure Support Program received by the Burnet Institute. Megan Lim is supported by an Australian Government Department of Health Preventive Research Fellowship. Margaret Hellard is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Elise R. Carrotte, Alyce M. Vella, Margaret E. Hellard & Megan S. C. Lim

  2. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Margaret E. Hellard & Megan S. C. Lim

  3. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Megan S. C. Lim

Authors
  1. Elise R. Carrotte
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  2. Alyce M. Vella
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  3. Margaret E. Hellard
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  4. Megan S. C. Lim
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Correspondence to Elise R. Carrotte.

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Carrotte, E.R., Vella, A.M., Hellard, M.E. et al. Mental Health and Associated Sexual Health Behaviours in a Sample of Young People Attending a Music Festival in Melbourne, Victoria. Community Ment Health J 52, 1082–1088 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9981-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9981-2

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