TY - JOUR
PY - 2022//
TI - Comparing the prevalence of sexual behaviors and victimization among adolescents based on child welfare system involvement
JO - Child abuse and neglect
A1 - Kobulsky, Julia M.
A1 - Cederbaum, Julie A.
A1 - Wildfeuer, Rachel
A1 - Grest, Carolina Villamil
A1 - Clarke, Lauren
A1 - Kordic, Timothy
SP - e105883
EP - e105883
VL - 134
IS -
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Sexual behavior presents risks, particularly among vulnerable groups such as adolescents with child welfare system involvement. This study compares the prevalence of sexual behaviors and victimization among adolescents in Los Angeles County with and without child welfare system involvement. It examines associations between online and offline sexual behaviors and victimization.
METHODS: The sample included middle and high school students (N = 2365) and high school students only (N = 1068) participating in the 2015 Los Angeles Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Measures included child welfare system involvement with or without foster care placement, demographics (race, ethnicity, gender, age), in-person sexual behaviors (e.g., unsafe sex), online sexual behaviors (e.g., sent/received sext), and sexual victimization (forced sex, dating physical violence, dating sexual assault). Logistic regressions examined variability in sexual behaviors and victimization based on child welfare involvement, net of demographics. Path analyses associated online sexual behaviors with victimization and offline risk.
RESULTS: Greater reported sexual behavior and victimization among foster care youths was found, relative to youths without child welfare system involvement (maximum OR = 9.8). Youth with child welfare system involvement but not placed in foster care reported more unsafe sex, sexting because of pressure, finding a sex partner online, having sex with a partner met online, and forced sex (maximum OR = 10.4). Sexting was associated with forced sex and dating sexual assault, finding a sexual partner online, and physical violence.
CONCLUSIONS: Targeted prevention is needed for online and offline sexual risks and victimization among youth with child welfare system involvement.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0145-2134 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105883 ID - ref1 ER -