Abstract
This study examined the exchange of sexual services for compensation (e.g., money, drugs, alcohol) in high school students. The sale of sex in young people from nonclinical samples has been the subject of recent studies, but buying such services has received far less attention. This study described these two phenomena and associated factors within a nonclinical sample of 815 high school students (M = 15.86 years) from Québec. According to our results, 3% of these youth reported having bought and 4% reported having sold such services in their lifetime. More girls were involved in selling sexual services and more boys were involved in buying them. Young people generally disapproved of prostitution. Logistic regressions revealed that attitudes in support of prostitution, history of sexual abuse, casual sex, and the number of stressful life events were related to the sale of sex. Furthermore, observing sexualized social activities and exhibiting approving attitudes towards prostitution were associated with buying sexual services.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). We thank the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la violence familiale et sur la violence faite aux femmes (Cri-Viff) and also the Équipe violence sexuelle et santé (ÉVISSA) funded by Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC).
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Appendix
Appendix
Summary of items and factor loadings for oblimin three-factor solution for the Disapproving Attitudes Towards Prostitution
Items | F 1 a | F 2 a | F 3 a |
|---|---|---|---|
1. It is not normal to seek out the services of a male or female prostitute | .42 | – | – |
2. Giving money for sex is a fair exchangeb | −.41 | – | – |
3. Everyone can contribute to putting an end to prostitution | .42 | – | – |
4. It is not really appropriate for a father to buy the services of a prostitute | .46 | – | – |
5. For the client, prostitution is a good way to enjoy an active sex lifeb | – | .53 | – |
6. To use the services of a female prostitute is to exploit her | – | – | .66 |
7. Prostitution is an expression of the freedom to do what one wants with one’s bodyb | – | .36 | – |
8. There is a way to reduce the social problem of prostitution | .45 | – | – |
9. Being an escort (a date for parties and prostitution) to pay for one’s studies is acceptableb | −.41 | – | – |
10. Prostitution contributes positively to societyb | −.53 | – | – |
11. Prostitution is an excellent way for a client to have access to sexual pleasureb | – | .69 | – |
12. The negative effects that prostitution has on communities and neighborhoods should be made known | .68 | – | – |
13. Prostituting oneself for money, drugs, etc. is humiliating | .55 | – | – |
14. Prostitution is an opportunity for the client to receive affectionb | – | .49 | – |
15. Prostitution has always existed so there is no reason to be concerned about itb | −.55 | – | – |
16. Prostitution is a disturbing social phenomenon | .60 | – | – |
17. Clients of prostitution are perfectly good people who are looking for a little pleasureb | – | .40 | – |
18. People who prostitute themselves are more victims than they are winners | .38 | – | – |
19. Prostitution allows clients to satisfy their sexual desires or fantasies in a healthy wayb | – | .62 | – |
20. Prostitution provides the client the advantage of allowing him or her to try all kinds of sexual practicesb | – | .71 | – |
21. There is no good reason to encourage prostitution | .55 | – | – |
22. People who prostitute themselves are putting their health at risk | .54 | – | – |
23. Prostitution is a good way for the client to have sexual relations without any commitmentb | – | .71 | – |
24. Prostitution is immoral | .61 | – | – |
25. I would do anything to prevent one of my friends from prostituting herself | .56 | – | – |
26. To use the services of a male prostitute is to exploit him | – | – | .78 |
27. A client of prostitution is someone who takes advantage of others | – | – | .66 |
28. Drug addiction is a frequent consequence of prostitution | .38 | – | – |
29. We should talk more about the benefits of prostitution for societyb | −.59 | – | – |
30. A man who prostitutes himself is treated like a sexual object and not like a person | – | – | .57 |
31. Prostitution exploits women | – | – | .53 |
32. There is no reason for prostitution to exist | .50 | – | – |
33. Prostitution is an unfair exchange in which one person is exploited for another person’s pleasure | – | – | .39 |
Percentage of variance | 28.68 | 5.91 | 2.07 |
Factor correlations | |||
Factor 1 | – | – | – |
Factor 2 | −.40 | – | – |
Factor 3 | .75 | −.39 | – |
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Lavoie, F., Thibodeau, C., Gagné, MH. et al. Buying and Selling Sex in Québec Adolescents: A Study of Risk and Protective Factors. Arch Sex Behav 39, 1147–1160 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9605-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9605-4