Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Emotional Victimization and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Adolescent African American Women

  • Research on Adolescent Population
  • Published:
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that a history of gender-based victimization is associated with higher rates of sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescents. Victimization can occur in various forms. To date, no published studies have examined the relationship between the different forms of victimization and sexual risk-taking behaviors among African American adolescent women. This study explored the association between different forms of victimization and sexual risk behaviors using baseline data from participants (N = 715) with a mean age of 17.9 (SD = 1.7), who were enrolled in a larger intervention study. The results revealed that a history of any form of victimization was associated with some form of sexual risk behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackard, D. M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2002). Date violence and date rape among adolescents: Associations with disordered eating behaviors and psychological health. The International Journal, 26, 455–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anetzberger, G. (1998). Psychological abuse and neglect: A cross-cultural concern to older Americans. Understanding and combating elder abuse in minority communities. Archstone Foundation, 141–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashley, O. S., & Foshee, V. A. (2005). Adolescent help-seeking for dating violence: Prevalence, sociodemographic correlates, and sources of help. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36(1), 25–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Binggeli, N. J., Han, S. N., & Brassard, M. R. (2001). Psychological maltreatment: A study guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, B. M., Tolman, R. M., Callahan, M., Saunders, D. G., & Weisz, A. N. (2008). When will adolescents tell someone about dating violence victimization? Violence Against Women, 14, 741–758.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catania, J. A., Gibson, D. R., Chitwood, D. D., & Coates, T. J. (1990). Methodological problems in AIDS behavioral research: Influences on measurement error and participation bias in studies of sexual behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 339–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cecil, H., & Pinkerton, S. D. (1998). Reliability and validity of a self-efficacy instrument for protective sexual behaviors. Journal of American College Health, 47(3), 113–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Understanding intimate partner violence. Fact sheet. Washington, DC: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncip/dvp/ipv_factsheet.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (2001). The impact of child maltreatment and psychopathology upon neuroendocrine functioning. Development and Psychopathology, 13, 783–804.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, D., Spear, S., Scribner, R., Kissinger, P., Mason, K., & Wildgen, J. (2000). “Broken windows” and the risk of gonorrhea. American Journal of Public Health, 90(2), 230–236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coker, A. L., McKeown, R. E., Sanderson, M., Davis, K. E., Valois, R. F., & Huebner, E. S. (2000). Severe dating violence and quality of life among South Carolina high school students. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 19(4), 220–226.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeGregoria, B. (1987). Sex role attitude and perception of psychological abuse. Sex Roles, 16(5/6), 227–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiClemente, R. J., Crosby, R. A., Wingood, G. M., Lang, D. L., Salazar, L. F., & Broadwell, S. D. (2005). Reducing risk exposures to zero and not having multiple partners: Findings that inform evidence-based practices designed to prevent STD acquisition. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 16, 816–818.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Follingstad, D. R., Rutledge, L. L., Berg, B. J., Gause, E. S., & Polek, D. S. (1990). The role of emotional abuse in physically abusive relationships. Journal of Family Violence, 5, 107–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Linder, G. F., Bauman, K. E., Langwick, S. A., Arriaga, X. B., Heath, J. L., … Bangdiwala, S. (1996). The Safe Dates Project: Theoretical basis, evaluation design, and selected baseline findings. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12(5 Suppl.), 39–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb, B. E., Chelminiski, I., & Zimmerman, M. (2007). Childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders in adult psychiatric outpatients. Depression and Anxiety, 24(4), 256–263.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goetz, A. T., Shackelford, T. K., Schipper, L. D., & Stewart-Williams, S. (2006). Adding insult to injury: Development and initial validation of the partner-directed insults scale. Violence and Victims, 21, 691–706.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halfors, D. D., Waller, M. W., Bauer, D., Ford, C. A., & Halpern C. T. (2005). Which comes first in adolescence—sex and drugs or depression? American Journal of Prevention Medicine, 29(3), 163–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern, C. T., Oslak, S. G., Young, M. L., Martin, S. L., & Kupper, L. L. (2001). Partner violence among adolescents in opposite-sex romantic relationships: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 1679–1685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoge, D. R., & McCarthy, J. D. (1983). Issues of validity and reliability in the use of realideal discrepancy scores to measure self-regard. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 44, 1048–1055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, D. E., & Wang, M. Q. (2003). Psychosocial factors associated with adolescent boys’ reports of dating violence. Adolescence, 38, 519–533.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iwaniec, D., Larkin, E., & Higgins, S. (2006). Risk and resilience in cases of emotional abuse. Child and Family Social Work, 11(1), 73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Josephs, L. L., & Abel, E.M. (2009). Investigating the relationship between intimate partner violence and HIV risk propensity in Black/African American women. Journal of Family Violence, 24(4), 221–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzaferro, K. E., Murray, P. J., Ness, R. B., Bass, D. C., Tyus, N., & Cook, R. L. (2006). Depression, stress, and social support as predictors of high-risk sexual behaviors and STIs in young women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 39, 601–603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Molidor, C., & Tolman, R. M. (1998). Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence. Violence Against Women, 4(2), 180–194.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, P. E., Martin, J. L., Anderson, J. C., Romans, S. E., & Herbison, G. P. (1996). The long-term impact of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children: A community study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 20(1), 7–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, C. M., & O’Leary, D. K. (1989). Effects of maternal mood on mother-son interaction patterns. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 513–525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Keefe, M., & Treister, L. (1998). Victims of dating violence among high school students. Violence Against Women, 4(2), 195–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pico-Alfonso, M. A., Garcia-Linares, M. I., Celda-Navarro, N., Blascos-Ros, C., Echeburua, E., & Martinez, M. (2006). The impact of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate male partner violence on women’s mental health: Depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, state anxiety, and suicide. Journal of Women’s Health, 15, 599–611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1(3), 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1991). The use of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20(2), 149–166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raj, A., Silverman, J. G., & Amaro, H. (2000). The relationship between sexual abuse and sexual risk among high school students: Findings from the 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Maternal Child Heath Journal, 4, 125–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rennison, C. M., & Welchans, S. (2000). Intimate partner violence. U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved October 30, 2008, from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1979). Conceiving the self. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sackett, L. A., & Saunders D. G. (2001). The impact of different forms of psychological abuse on battered women. In K. D. O’Leary & R. D. Maiuro (Eds.), Psychological abuse in violence domestic relations (pp. 197–210). New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salazar, L. F., Wingood, G. M., DiClemente, R. J., Lang, D. L., & Harrington, K. (2004). The role of social support in the psychological well-being of African American girls who experience dating violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 19(2), 171–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sales, J. M., Salazar, L. F., Wingood, G. M., DiClemente, R. J., Rose, E., & Crosby, R. A. (2008). The mediating role of partner communication skills on HIV/STD-associated risk behaviors in African-American female adolescents with a history of gender-based violence. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 162, 432–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saltzman, L. E., Fanslow, J. L., McMahon, P. M., & Shelley, G. A. (1999). Intimate partner violence surveillance: Uniform definitions and recommended data elements, Version 1.0. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, R., Baumrind, N., & Kimerling, R. (2007). Exposure to child abuse and risk for mental health problems in women. Violence and Victims, 22, 620–631.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Senn, T. E., Carey, M. P., Vanable, P. A., Coury-Doniger, P., & Urban, M. A. (2006). Childhood sexual abuse and sexual risk behavior among men and women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 74, 720–731.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shrier L. A., Harris, S. K., & Beardslee, W. R. (2002). Temporal associations between depressive symptoms and self-reported sexually transmitted disease among adolescents. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 156, 599–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sikkema K. J., Kalichman, S. C., Hoffmann, R., Koob, J. J., Kelly, J. A., & Heckman, T. G. (2000). Coping strategies and emotional wellbeing among HIV-infected men and women experiencing AIDS-related bereavement. AIDS Care, 12, 613–624.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, J. G., Silverman, R. A., Mucci, L. A., & Hathaway, J. E. (2001). Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance abuse, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy and suicidality. JAMA, 286, 572–579.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M. P., Kaslow, N. J., Kingree, J. B., Rashid, A., Puett, R., Jacobs, D., & Matthews, A. (2000). Partner violence, social support, and distress among inner-city African American women. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28(1), 127–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch, D. M., & Kusunoki, Y. (2004). Associations between forced sex, sexual and protective practices, and sexually transmitted diseases among a national sample of adolescent girls. Women’s Health Issues, 14(3), 75–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valois, R. F., Oeltmann, J. E., Waller, J., & Hussey, J. R. (1999). Relationship between number of sexual intercourse partners and selected health risk behaviors among public high school adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 25, 328–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. K., Wyatt, G. E., Myers, H. F., Green, K. N. P., & Warda, U. S. (2008). Patterns in relationship violence among African American Women: Future research and implications for intervention. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 16(3), 296–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente R. J. (1997a). Child sexual abuse, HIV sexual risk, and gender relations of African-American women. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 13, 380–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente, R. J. (1997b). The effects of an abusive primary partner on condom use and sexual negotiation practices of African-American women. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 1016–1018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente, R. J. (1998). Relationship characteristics and gender-related factors associated with noncondom use among young adult African American women. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26(1), 29–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente, R. J. (2000). Application of the theory of gender and power to examine HIV related exposures, risk factors, and effective intervention for women. Health Education and Behavior, 27, 539–565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., DiClemente, R. J., McCree, D. H., Harrington, K., & Davies, S. L. (2001). Dating violence and the sexual health of black adolescent females. Pediatrics, 107(5), 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Younge, S. N., Salazar, L. F., DiClemente, R. J., & Crosby, R. A. (2008). The psychometric properties of last condom use as a proxy for condom use behavior in HIV prevention research. Adolescence, 43(172), 927–931.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Dr. S.W., Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA

    Sinead N. Younge

  2. Emory University, USA

    Laura F. Salazar, Jessica M. Sales, Ralph J. DiClemente, Gina M. Wingood & Eve Rose

Authors
  1. Sinead N. Younge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura F. Salazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jessica M. Sales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ralph J. DiClemente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gina M. Wingood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Eve Rose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sinead N. Younge.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Younge, S.N., Salazar, L.F., Sales, J.M. et al. Emotional Victimization and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Adolescent African American Women. Journ Child Adol Trauma 3, 79–94 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521003761523

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521003761523

Keywords

Search

Navigation