Citation

Walsh JL, Senn TE, Carey MP. Psychol. Violence 2012; 2(4): 339-354.

Affiliation

Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/a0027716

PMID

23626921

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Diverse forms of violence, including childhood maltreatment (CM), intimate partner violence (IPV), and exposure to community violence (ECV), have been linked separately with sexual risk behaviors. However, few studies have explored multiple experiences of violence simultaneously in relation to sexual risk-taking, especially in women who are most vulnerable to violent experiences. METHODS: Participants were 481 women (66% African American, M age = 27 years) attending a publicly-funded STD clinic who reported on their past and current experiences with violence and their current sexual risk behavior. We identified patterns of experience with violence using latent class analysis (LCA) and investigated which combinations of experiences were associated with the riskiest sexual outcomes. RESULTS: Four classes of women with different experiences of violence were identified: Low Violence (39%), Predominantly ECV (20%), Predominantly CM (23%), and Multiply Victimized (18%). Women in the Multiply Victimized and Predominantly ECV classes reported the highest levels of sexual risk behavior, including more lifetime sexual partners and a greater likelihood of receiving STD treatment and using substances before sex. CONCLUSIONS: Women with different patterns of violent experiences differed in their sexual risk behavior. Interventions to reduce sexual risk should address violence against women, focusing on experiences with multiple types of violence and experiences specifically with ECV. Additional research is needed to determine the best ways to address violence in sexual risk reduction interventions.

Language: en