@article{ref1,
title="Adverse childhood experiences, acculturation, and risky sexual behaviors in Hispanic young adults: findings from Project RED",
journal="Journal of sex research",
year="2023",
author="Rahman, Tahsin and Rogers, Christopher J. and Albers, Larisa D. and Forster, Myriam and Unger, Jennifer B.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="While adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are well-documented predictors of maladaptive behaviors in adulthood, including risky sexual behaviors (RSB), the influence of acculturation in this association remains unknown. Although Hispanics are a rapidly growing population in the United States and are disproportionately affected by adverse sexual health outcomes, there is a paucity of research examining the interplay of ACE, acculturation, and RSB in this population. We observed the ACE-RSB association and how this relationship varies across U.S. and Hispanic acculturation levels, in a sample of Hispanic young adults (n = 715). Data for this study were from Project RED, a longitudinal study of Hispanic health. We ran regression models to test associations between ACE (0, 1-3, 4+) and several RSB (e.g., early sexual initiation (≤14 years), condomless sex, lifetime sexual partners, and alcohol/drug use before intercourse), and assessed moderation by U.S./Hispanic acculturation. Compared with those without ACE, individuals with 4 + ACE had higher odds of early sexual initiation (AOR: 2.23), alcohol/drug use before last intercourse (AOR: 2.31), and condomless sex (AOR: 1.66), as well as a higher number of lifetime sexual partners (β: 0.60). For those reporting 4 + ACE, high U.S. acculturation was protective in the association between ACE and using alcohol/drugs before intercourse. Future research implications are discussed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4499",
doi="10.1080/00224499.2023.2184762",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2184762"
}