@article{ref1,
title="Childhood Maltreatment, Psychological Dysregulation, and Risky Sexual Behaviors in Female Adolescents",
journal="Journal of pediatric psychology",
year="2011",
author="Noll, Jennie G. and Haralson, Katherine J. and Butler, Erica M. and Shenk, Chad E.",
volume="36",
number="7",
pages="743-752",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Maltreated female adolescents are at risk for engaging in sexual behaviors consistent with HIV infection and teen pregnancy. The current study applied a model positing the key role of psychological dysregulation in the development of adolescent females' sexual behavior. METHODS: The sample consisted of adolescent females aged 14-17 years who had experienced substantiated childhood maltreatment (n = 275) and a demographically matched, non-maltreated comparison group (n = 210). RESULTS: Multiple mediator analysis revealed that, when in company with a host of plausible mechanisms, sexual preoccupation mediated the relationship between psychological dysregulation and risky sexual behaviors. CONCLUSION: Maltreated females may have difficulty regulating emotions, cognitions, and behaviors, which, when coupled with a propensity to entertain sexual thoughts and consume sexually explicit materials, may increase the likelihood that they act on sexual impulses and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0146-8693",
doi="10.1093/jpepsy/jsr003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsr003"
}