Archives of Sexual Behavior
Volume 35, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 451-459

The effects of childhood trauma on sex trading in substance using women (Article)

Vaddiparti K. , Bogetto J. , Callahan C. , B. Abdallah A. , Spitznagel E.L. , Cottler L.B.*
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
  • e Department of Mathematics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States

Abstract

This article presents a model developed to understand the relationship between childhood victimization, perpetration of violence, and later cocaine dependence and adult sex trading among drug using women. A cohort of heavy drinking and drug using women (N=594) recruited for two on-going community based HIV prevention studies in St. Louis City was analyzed to evaluate this association using path analysis. The women were stratified into two groups: sex traders and non-sex traders. Sex traders were more likely than non-sex traders to report being forced to kiss or touch someone in a sexual way before age 15 (35% vs. 22%), being kissed or touched in a sexual way by others when they did not want to be (42% vs. 31%), and being forced to have sexual intercourse (30% vs. 21%). Sex traders were more likely than non-sex traders to use a weapon or threaten someone with a weapon (29% vs. 18%) and physically hurt others on purpose before age 15 (9% vs. 5%). Path analysis confirmed that childhood victimization had a significant and direct association with both adult cocaine dependence and sex trading. However, the association between childhood perpetration and adult sex trading was mediated by cocaine dependence. This analysis concludes that childhood victimization was the strongest predictor of cocaine dependence and sex trading in adulthood. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Cocaine dependence Childhood trauma violence sex trading

Index Keywords

evaluation Missouri Child Abuse, Sexual path analysis human risk assessment comorbidity Cohort Studies middle aged violence controlled study Substance-Related Disorders alcoholism cocaine United States cocaine dependence Cocaine-Related Disorders Humans female prediction risk factor prostitution victim child sexual abuse women's health Article Risk-Taking weapon Questionnaires adult Child Abuse major clinical study sexual harassment sexual intercourse causality outcome assessment cohort analysis threat Crime Victims Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33749016192&doi=10.1007%2fs10508-006-9044-4&partnerID=40&md5=5abf11214dca1713f42e31f87534d8b4
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-006-9044-4
ISSN: 00040002
Cited by: 44
Original Language: English