Helen W. Wilson and Cathy Spatz Widom. 2010. Journal of Research on Adolescence. 20(1): 210–236
Like the research here and the pathways analysis. I have difficulty with the language “problem behaviors” of the young person and “neorologically based weaknesses” — seems to put the individual responsibility for preventing future abuse on the child. Though to be fair the authors clearly note in their discussion that these “problem behaviors” are (maladaptive) coping mechanisms to toxic stress/abusive situations.
Behaviors beginning in childhood or adolescence may mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and involvement in prostitution. This paper examines five potential mediators, of which 4 were significant:
- early sexual initiation – indicates risk for sexual risk taking; strongest predictor
- running away – survival sex, being around “deviant” peer group that normalizes prostitution
- juvenile crime – indicates devient behavior
- school problems – disadvantage in terms of getting jobs
- early drug use — no relationship observed. but contrary to a lot of literature.
prospective cohort design — abused and neglected children (ages 0–11) matched with non-abused, non-neglected children and followed into young adulthood. In-person interviews at age 29 and arrest records through 1994. Structural Equation Modeling tested path models.
Results: victims of abuse and neglect were at increased risk for all problem behaviors, except drug use. Only early sexual initiation was significant as a mediator in the pathway from child abuse and neglect to prostitution. Findings were consistent for physical and sexual abuse and neglect.
Findings suggest that interventions to reduce problem behaviors among maltreated children may also reduce their risk for prostitution later in life.
aviator penguin 