Peer harassment and risky behavior among sexual minority girls and boys.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Martin-Storey A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5564204 | biostudies-other | 2014
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:Prenatal exposure to gonadal hormones plays a major role in the normal development of the male and female brain and sexually dimorphic behaviors. Hormone-dependent differences in brain structure and function suggest that exposure to exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals may be associated with sex-specific alterations in behavior. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental chemical that has been shown to alter estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest associations between prenatal exposure to BPA and child behavior, however data are inconsistent, and few studies have examined school age children. We examined BPA concentration in spot urine samples from women at mean 27 weeks of pregnancy in relation to child behavior assessed at age 6-10 years using the parent-completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We report associations between maternal BPA urinary concentrations and several CBCL scores in 153 children (77 boys and 76 girls). We observed a significant interaction between maternal urinary BPA and sex for several behaviors (externalizing, aggression, Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional/Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder traits), but no significant associations between BPA and scores on any CBCL scales. However in analyses restricted to children of mothers with detectable prenatal urinary BPA (n=125), BPA was associated with moderately increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors, withdrawn/depressed behavior, somatic problems, and Oppositional/Defiant Disorder traits in boys. In addition we observed a significant interaction between BPA and sex for several behaviors (externalizing, withdrawn/depressed, rule-breaking, Oppositional/Defiant Disorder traits, and Conduct Disorder traits). These results suggest that prenatal exposure to BPA may be related to increased behavior problems in school age boys, but not girls.
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Project description:PurposeThe purpose of this study was to understand why a housing mobility experiment caused harmful effects on adolescent boys' risky behaviors.MethodsMoving to Opportunity (MTO) (1994-2010) randomly assigned volunteer families to a treatment group receiving a Section 8 rental voucher or a public housing control group. Our outcome was a global risky behavior index (RBI; measured in 2002, n = 750 boys) measuring the fraction of 10 items the youth engaged in, 6 measuring past 30-day substance use and 4 measuring recent risky sexual behavior. Potential mediators (measured in 2002) included peer social relationships (e.g., peer drug use, peer gang membership).ResultsThe voucher treatment main effect on boys' RBI was harmful (B (SE) = 0.05 (0.02), 95% CI 0.01, 0.08), and treatment marginally increased having friends who used drugs compared to controls (B (SE) = 0.67 (0.23), 95% CI 0.22, 1.12). Having friends who used drugs marginally mediated the MTO treatment effect on RBI (indirect effect: B (SE) = 0.02(.01), 95% CI -0.002, 0.04), reducing the total treatment effect by 39%.ConclusionsIncorporating additional supports into housing voucher programs may help support teenage boys who experience disruptions to their social networks, to buffer potential adverse consequences of residential mobility.
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Project description:Increased risky sexual behavior in sexual minorities relative to heterosexual individuals may be partly explained by mental health disparities, and both factors may be further jointly influenced by common genetic and environmental factors. However, these relationships have not been previously investigated. The objectives of the present study were to investigate mental health disparities as a mediator of the relationship between sexual orientation and risky sexual behavior, controlling for genetic and environmental effects in this relationship and testing for sex differences. Participants included 5814 twins from a Finnish twin cohort. Specified latent factors included sexual orientation, mental health indicators, and risky sexual behavior. Twin models were fitted to the factor structure of the data whereby a Cholesky decomposition on the factors was compared to a mediation submodel using OpenMx. Sex differences were tested in the final model. Phenotypically, mental health disparities partially mediated the relationship between sexual orientation and increased risky sexual behavior, with comparable effects in males and females. However, while this indirect route from sexual orientation to risky sexual behavior mainly contained transmitted genetic effects in males, there was a significant proportion of transmitted shared environmental effects in females. This is the first study to demonstrate that the mediation relationships between sexual orientation, mental health disparities, and risky sexual behavior are not confounded by genetic and environmental factors. The significant sex differences need to be recognized in future research and intervention design to improve sexual health in sexual minorities.
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Project description:IntroductionJustice-involved adolescents are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections; one primary reason is co-occurring substance use. This study investigates the additive benefit of including alcohol and cannabis use content in a theory-based sexual risk reduction intervention, delivered using group-based motivational enhancement therapy.Study designThis study had a cluster randomized design, with randomization of single-sex clusters to 1 of 3 interventions.Setting/participantsParticipants were male and female justice-involved adolescents (N=460) residing in youth detention facilities. Data were collected from 2010 to 2014; analyses were completed in 2018-2019.InterventionAdolescents were randomized to 1 of 3 motivational enhancement therapy interventions: sexual risk reduction intervention, sexual risk reduction intervention with alcohol content, or sexual risk reduction intervention with alcohol and cannabis content.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was risky sexual behavior (aggregation of condom use and frequency of intercourse), measured every 3 months for 1 year. Secondary outcomes were theoretical mechanisms on which the intervention was based (condom use attitudes, self-efficacy, peer norms, and behavioral intentions), collected at baseline and post-test.ResultsRisky sexual behavior significantly decreased from baseline to 3-month follow-up (t=10.59, p<0.001) and this decrease was maintained 1 year later (t=9.04, p<0.001). Intervention was associated with improved values on all theoretical mechanisms. Although all outcomes improved over time, changes did not differ by intervention condition (p>0.29 for all). Comparisons to a historical, information-only, sexual risk reduction control arm conducted with a similar juvenile justice sample confirm the effectiveness of all 3 motivational enhancement therapy-based interventions.ConclusionsAll 3 interventions were associated with decreased sexual risk up to 1 year later, suggesting that the intervention modality (motivational enhancement therapy) may resonate with this population beyond the specific substance use content. This single-session manualized intervention can be readily disseminated to juvenile justice settings.Trial registrationThis study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01170260.
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Project description:IntroductionGirls and boys presenting disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) display differences in white matter microstructure (WMM) relative to typically developing (TD) sex-matched peers. Boys with DBDs are at increased risk for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which are also known to impact WMM. This study aimed to disentangle associations of WMM with DBDs and TBIs.MethodsThe sample included 673 children with DBDs and 836 TD children, aged 9-10, from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Thirteen white matter bundles previously associated with DBDs were the focus of study. Analyses were undertaken separately by sex, adjusting for callous-unemotional traits (CU), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), age, pubertal stage, IQ, ethnicity, and family income.ResultsAmong children without TBIs, those with DBDs showed sex-specific differences in WMM of several tracts relative to TD. Most differences were associated with ADHD, CU, or both. Greater proportions of girls and boys with DBDs than sex-matched TD children had sustained TBIs. Among girls and boys with DBDs, those who had sustained TBIs compared to those not injured, displayed WMM alterations that were robust to adjustment for all covariates. Across most DBD/TD comparisons, axonal density scores were higher among children presenting DBDs.DiscussionIn conclusion, in this community sample of children, those with DBDs were more likely to have sustained TBIs that were associated with additional, sex-specific, alterations of WMM. These additional alterations further compromise the future development of children with DBDs.
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Project description:BackgroundEarly adolescence (ages 10-14) is a critical period of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, which affect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Yet, little is known about positive or healthy aspects of sexuality development during this period of life, especially in South East Asia where sexual norms remain restrictive. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and correlates of sexual wellbeing among early adolescent girls and boys ages 10-14 years in Indonesia.MethodsData for this cross-sectional study were collected as part of the Global Early Adolescent Study via a school-based survey in three Indonesian urban sites in 2018 (N = 4309). We assessed the prevalence of multiple indicators of sexual wellbeing (e.g. SRHR knowledge and communication, gender attitudes, body satisfaction, self-efficacy, freedom from violence) and tested for differences by sex using Chi-square, Student t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the adjusted odds ratio of selected indicators in relation to sociodemographic factors, romantic relationship status, and sexual activities.ResultsThe mean age of students was 12 years (53% girls); 90% had started puberty. SRHR knowledge and communication was low overall, but higher among boys than girls. Boys were more likely than girls to report high body satisfaction, less feelings of guilt in relation to sexuality, but also to have experienced physical peer violence. In contrast, girls were more likely to hold gender equal attitudes, greater perceived self-efficacy to say 'no', and to report being bullied by boys. In multivariable models, romantic relationship experiences, perceived voice (boys and girls) and decision-making (girls) were associated with three or more indicators of sexual wellbeing.ConclusionsWhile young adolescents in Indonesia score high on some aspects of sexual wellbeing, misconceptions, feelings of guilt and uncertainties related to sexuality are common, with clear gender differences. These findings confirm the need for comprehensive sexuality education that begins early in adolescence.
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Project description:Impulsivity and extraversion have demonstrated associations with risky sexual behavior (RSB) and potentially traumatic events (PTEs). In addition, interpersonal trauma appears to be associated with RSB, but research on the relationship between RSB and noninterpersonal PTEs (e.g., accidental) is lacking. The current study aims to investigate the relationships between personality (i.e., impulsivity, extraversion), RSB and multiple types of PTEs (i.e., accidental, physical, or sexual).Personality and demographic characteristics were assessed during participants' (N = 970) first semester of college, past-12 month PTEs and RSB were assessed during the second semester of participants' junior year. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationship between PTEs, personality factors, and RSB. Analyses were also conducted to examine the potential mediating effect of interpersonal PTEs on the relationship between personality and RSB.Impulsivity and extraversion were significantly positively associated with RSB. Both physical and sexual PTEs, but not accidental PTEs, were also significantly positively associated with RSB. Sexual PTEs significantly mediated the relationship between impulsivity and RSB.This is the first study to date to simultaneously examine the relationship between personality, RSB, and types of PTEs in a large sample of young adults. Exposure to interpersonal trauma appears to be a salient factor in the relationship between personality, specifically impulsivity, and RSB. These results indicate that college students may benefit from education regarding the potential negative outcomes of RSB, and that individuals with a history of interpersonal PTEs may be at increased risk for sexual risk taking. (PsycINFO Database Record
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