Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of U.S. minors for the purposes of a commercial sex act. DMST victims and survivors often become involved with state-level systems including the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. This study presents exploratory qualitative findings regarding the role of interpersonal relationships in the lives of system-involved DMST survivors from the perspectives of DMST survivors. Results indicate survivors perceive interpersonal relationships as key to promoting risk, providing protection, and fostering resiliency over DMST. Findings from the current study not only provide a context for understanding the role of interpersonal relationships in the lives of DMST survivors but also point to directions for development of interventions targeted toward this population. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Risk and resiliency framework Domestic minor sex trafficking Interpersonal relationship qualitative

Child Abuse, Sexual Interpersonal Relations human survivor middle aged Aged human relation sex trafficking United States Young Adult Adult Survivors of Child Abuse child abuse survivor psychology Humans Adolescent male preschool child female Child, Preschool Child Welfare prostitution child sexual abuse Resilience, Psychological prevention and control Article human trafficking psychological resilience adult exploratory research Sex Work Child