Citation

Graham LM, Macy RJ, Eckhardt A, Rizo CF, Jordan BL. Aggress. Violent Behav. 2019; 47: 117-136.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.avb.2019.04.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Increasingly, organizations are providing services to promote the resilience and reintegration of persons trafficked for sexual exploitation. Unfortunately, services for survivors of trafficking have out-paced the evaluation of such services. However, formative studies exist on the needs and service outcomes of survivors of trafficking. We undertook a systematic summary of such studies with the aim of compiling the measures and constructs used in this literature. Of the 53 studies reviewed, 22 studies named 34 published measures used to collect data regarding survivors' coping; physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health; substance use; social support; trafficking-related needs, strengths, and outcomes; and trauma and abuse experiences. Additionally, to gather information on constructs of interest, 18 of the 22 studies included supplemental questions that were not part of a specific measure.

RESULTS show sex trafficking research is strongly focused on the physical and mental health needs and service outcomes of survivors. Few studies incorporate holistic views of well-being. Moreover, measures used with this population often have not been tested with survivors of trafficking. We recommend testing measures with this population, conducting holistic assessment of the needs and outcomes of survivors of sex trafficking, and developing tailored measures for various subgroups within this diverse population.

Language: en

Keywords

Human trafficking; Prostitution; Sex work; Sexual assault; Systematic review