Article
Changes in adolescents' risk factors following peer sexual coercion: evidence for a feedback loop
Development and Psychopathology
(2012)
Abstract
Investigators have identified a number of factors that increase the risk for experiencing sexual coercion, but as yet little is known about how sexual coercion in turn affects these risk factors. Using a sample of 110 adolescents, the current study examined the hypothesis that, after an incident of sexual coercion, adolescents would exhibit increases in several behaviors known to increase risk for victimization. As predicted, after experiencing sexual coercion, adolescents reported increased externalizing symptoms, more frequent sexual intercourse and a greater total number of intercourse partners. Finally, alcohol use, drug use, and problems related to substance use increased. These findings suggest the presence of a feedback loop, in which the experience of sexual coercion leads to an intensification of the factors that initially contributed risk for coercion.
Disciplines
Publication Date
May, 2012
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412000168
Citation Information
B. J. Young, W. Furman and M. C. Jones. "Changes in adolescents' risk factors following peer sexual coercion: evidence for a feedback loop" Development and Psychopathology Vol. 24 Iss. 2 (2012) p. 559 - 571 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/meredith-joppa/6/