Citation

Rusow JA, Fletcher JB, Le H, Reback CJ. J. Gay Lesbian Soc. Serv. 2014; 26(2): 244-257.

Affiliation

Friends Research Institute, Inc ; UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10538720.2014.891451

PMID

25505831

Abstract

This study evaluated whether a history of sexual abuse could differentiate negative health consequences among men who have sex with men (MSM; N=148) enrolled in a risk counseling program. Over half (51.4%) reported an experience of sexual abuse. A history of sexual abuse was associated with increased psychological distress, increased rates of alcohol (AOR = 2.91; p <.01) and/or drug abuse (AOR = 2; p <.01) treatment, increased risk of housing instability (AOR = 2.13; p <.05), and increased risk for suicidality (AOR = 4.3; p <.001).

FINDINGS demonstrate that screening for sexual abuse may be useful in determining the service needs of high-risk MSM.

Language: en