Relationship Between Perpetration and Victimization of Violence and Self-Reported Sexual Behavior Among Inner-City Adolescents in a Small Urban Setting

Background: Violence and sexual health are interrelated due to common socio-environmental causes.  Little research has examined whether the number of types of violence to which adolescents are exposed is related to level of sexual risk. 

Objectives: To examine the effect of violence perpetration and victimization on sexual behavior, and to assess whether there is a dose-response relationship with number of types of violence reported among inner-city adolescents.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 432 participants aged 14-18 of a summer employment program in Albany, NY.  Participants were asked about demographics, behaviors, and social environment.  Bivariate and log-binomial regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of violence, including perpetration and victimization, on sexual risk.

Results: Almost half (43.4%) of participants reported sexual activity.  One-third reported perpetrating some type of violence (13.8% had been in a gang; 15.4% used a weapon; 12.6% committed partnership violence); 57.9% reported some type of victimization (28.4% were jumped; 41.9%, 11.6%, and 7.9% experienced domestic, partnership, and sexual violence, respectively).  Sexual activity was higher among participants reporting each type of violence perpetration (PR range: 1.64-1.98; p<0.001) and victimization (PR range: 1.24-4.54; p<0.001).  These relationships remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and race.  There was a strong dose-response relationship between number of types of violence and sexual activity for both perpetration and victimization (p<0.0001).  Participants reporting both were more likely to be sexually active than those reporting only one or neither (70% vs. 44% and 24%, respectively).

Conclusions: Adolescents who had perpetrated violence and/or been victimized were more likely to be sexually active.  There was a positive association between the number of types of violence and sexually activity.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: Many adolescent health programs target either sexual health or violence.  Holistic programs that deal with them as interconnected issues are greatly needed.