Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-11-2013
Abstract
Exposure to community violence and HIV sexual risks are two major public health concerns among youth. This study tests various pathways linking exposure to community violence and sexual behaviors among African American adolescents. Using a sample of 563 (61 % females) African American youth attending high school we examined whether problematic psychological symptoms, low school engagement, and/or negative perceptions of peer norms about safer sex functioned as pathways linking exposure to community violence and sexual behaviors. Major findings indicated that, for boys, the relationship between exposure to community violence and sexual début and sexual risk behaviors were linked by aggression. In addition, the relationship between exposure to community violence and sexual risk behaviors were linked by negative perceptions of peer attitudes about safer sex. For girls, the relationship between exposure to community violence and sexual début was linked by aggression and negative perceptions of peer attitudes about safer sex. These findings provide support for pathways linking exposure to community violence to sexual behaviors.
Keywords
exposure to community violence, HIV risk, pathways, sexual behaviors, youth
Publication Title
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Volume
43
Issue
9
First Page
1513
Last Page
1526
Rights
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Recommended Citation
Voisin DR, Hotton AL, Neilands TB. Testing pathways linking exposure to community violence and sexual behaviors among African American youth. J Youth Adolesc. 2014 Sep;43(9):1513-26. doi: 10.1007/s10964-013-0068-5. Epub 2013 Dec 11. PMID: 24327295; PMCID: PMC4053484.
Included in
Community-Based Research Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Social Work Commons
Comments
This is a peer reviewed Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Springer in Journal of Youth and Adolescence, available at: 10.1007/s10964-013-0068-5