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ABSTRACT: Although previous research shows that homeless youth engage in numerous risky sexual behaviors, little is known about whether or not specific rules govern this conduct within their social networks and how group norms influence subsequent sexual actions. The current study utilizes 19 in-depth interviews with homeless youth to investigate different elements of their sexual behavior. Findings reveal that their decision to have sex generally depends on chemistry and physical appearance whereas a potential partner's risky sexual history and heavy substance use discourages youth from engaging in sex. Both males and females discuss condom usage as it relates to unknown sexual history, availability, pregnancy, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sixteen homeless youth indicate that they do not discuss safe sex practices with their partners or social network members.
Children and Youth Services Review 12/2012; 34(12):2481-2486. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Our paper examines service usage (e.g., shelter) as well as a typology of individuals who are most likely to use groupings of services among 249 homeless youth. Our results revealed that the majority of homeless young people have used food programs (66%) and street outreach (65%) on at least one occasion within the past year. Cluster analysis of services revealed four distinct groups: (1) basic survival service use, characterized by above average shelter, food, and outreach service use, but below average on counseling, substance abuse/mental health services, and incarceration; (2) multiple service use, which included above average use of all six services; (3) incarceration experience, characterized by above average incarceration experience, but below average use of all other five services; and (4) minimal service use, which included slightly above average use of counseling, but below average use of all other services. These findings have the potential to provide important information that may assist with targeting services to homeless youth.
Social Science Research 05/2012; 41(3):612-23. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The current study longitudinally examines the effects of child maltreatment, parenting, and disadvantaged neighborhood on
victimization, delinquency, and well-being via running away and school engagement among a sample of 360 high-risk adolescents.
Results of a path analysis revealed that parenting was associated with school engagement, running away, and well-being. Childhood
neglect was related to victimization while sexual abuse and living in a more disadvantaged neighborhood were associated with
poorer well-being. Greater school engagement was associated with higher levels of well-being and a lower likelihood of delinquency.
Finally, running away was positively associated with participating in delinquent activities. In terms of the interactions,
results showed that the effect of positive parenting on well-being was significantly stronger for females and the manner in
which neglect related to school engagement was greater among males. Additionally, gender significantly moderated the relationship
between running away and victimization and between running away and delinquency, both of which the effects were significantly
stronger for males. Implications for families and adolescents are addressed.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence 04/2012; 37(5):506-521. · 2.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Adolescents have begun to initiate sexual activity at increasingly early ages in the past few decades. Using a sample of 2,494
adolescents from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97), structural and parental process variables were examined
in the prediction of sexual onset. Results indicated that the age at which youth initiate sexual intercourse is related to
the structural characteristics of their grandmothers and mothers, as well as puberty, gender, and race. There is support for
partial mediation of the effects of these grandmother characteristics via mother characteristics and parental process. Results
are discussed within the framework of the life course perspective and provide support for the importance of previous generations
in the explanation of adolescent sexual behavior. Implications for families and adolescents are also addressed.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence 04/2012; 36(7):939-949. · 2.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although social networks are essential for explaining protective and risk factors among homeless youth, little is known about the formation and composition of these groups. In this study, we utilized 19 in-depth interviews with homeless youth to investigate their social network formation, role relationships, housing status, and network member functions. Our findings reveal that the formation of these networks occurred in different ways including meeting network members through others or in specific social situations. The majority of social network members were currently housed and provided various functions including instrumental and social support and protection. Responses from participants provide valuable insight into the formation of social networks and potentially explain their subsequent involvement in risky behaviors.
Journal of Research on Adolescence 12/2011; 21(4):802-817. · 1.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Though research has examined risk factors associated with street victimization among homeless young people, little is known about dating violence experiences among this group. Given homeless youths' elevated rates of child maltreatment, it is likely that they are at high risk for dating violence. As such, the current study examined the association between child maltreatment and parental warmth with dating violence perpetration and victimization through substance use and delinquency among a sample of 172 homeless males and females. Results from path analysis revealed that physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect were all significant correlates of both substance use and delinquency, whereas lack of parental warmth was only associated with substance use. Neglect and substance use had direct effects on dating violence and substance use and was found to mediate the relationship between physical abuse and dating violence. Finally, females, older youth, and non-Whites had significantly higher levels of dating violence compared with their counterparts.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 11/2011; 27(7):1357-73. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The current study compares female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) who were and were not victimized during pregnancy. Victims of pregnancy violence are more likely to report having experienced all forms of violence, particularly severe forms, and have higher odds of experiencing several postviolence indicators of severity and adverse health consequences. The significance of predictors disappears in a post hoc analysis controlling for proxies of battering behavior (i.e., repeated and severe violence), suggesting that victims who experience violence during pregnancy may be more likely to be in a current intimate relationship with an abuser who inflicts repeated and severe IPV.
Violence Against Women 07/2011; 17(7):858-81. · 1.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study examines the effects of poor parenting on dating violence perpetration and victimization among approximately 900 males and females from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results revealed that more physical abuse and low parental warmth were linked to greater substance use and higher rates of delinquency. In addition, low parental warmth, more neglect, and greater delinquency had positive direct effects on dating violence perpetration, whereas more physical abuse, low parental warmth, and increased delinquency were all positively associated with dating violence victimization. Finally, delinquency mediated the link between low parental warmth and dating violence perpetration and victimization. The results provide some support for both social learning theory and an antisocial orientation perspective.
Violence and Victims 01/2011; 26(2):218-30. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between child maltreatment, physical and sexual victimization, and partner violence victimization with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among a sample of homeless young adults from the midwestern United States.
Data are from the Homeless Young Adult Project. A total of 199 young adults aged 19-26 years were interviewed over 14 months using a systematic sampling strategy. The final sample included 172 young adults who were homeless or had a history of running away and being homeless.
Results from the path analysis revealed that sexual abuse is directly linked with street sexual victimization which was positively associated with a greater number of HIV risk behaviors. Experiencing more types of physical abuse and neglect were positively correlated with partner violence victimization, which was, in turn, associated with more HIV risk behaviors. Those who suffered from more types of neglect also experienced more forms of sexual and physical victimization.
These findings have implications for service providers. Clinicians who serve homeless youth should recognize the potential effect that experiencing a variety of forms of victimization may have on health risk behaviors.
Journal of Adolescent Health 12/2010; 47(6):575-81. · 3.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although homeless youth with and without foster care histories both face adverse life circumstances, little is known about how these two groups compare in terms of their early histories and whether they face similar outcomes. As such, we compared those with and without a history of foster care placement to determine if the associations between a history of poor parenting and negative outcomes including depression, delinquency, physical and sexual victimization, and substance use, are similar for these two groups. The sample consisted of 172 homeless young adults from the Midwestern United States. Multivariate results revealed that among those previously in foster care, a history of physical abuse and neglect were positively associated with more depressive symptoms whereas sexual abuse and neglect were related to delinquency and physical victimization. Additionally, lower caretaker monitoring was linked to greater delinquent participation. Among those without a history of foster care, physical abuse was related to more depressive symptoms whereas sexual abuse was positively correlated with delinquency, sexual victimization, and substance use. Furthermore, lower monitoring was related to more substance use. Our findings are discussed in terms of a social stress framework and we review the implications of foster care placement for homeless young adults.
Journal of Child and Family Studies 12/2010; 19(6):787-794. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In order to more fully understand the context and impact of intimate partner violence (IPV), it is important to make distinctions between different types of relationship aggression. As such, the current study longitudinally examines the differential effects of childhood, adolescent, and demographic factors on three different partner violence groups: those who experience bidirectional IPV, those who experience unidirectional IPV, and those who do not experience either form of IPV. Multinomial logistic regression results reveal that depressive symptoms and lower partner education predict bidirectional when compared to unidirectional IPV and nonviolence. In contrast, other risk factors such as illicit drug use are found to be predictors of unidirectional violence only, which reveals that the correlates of violence vary depending upon the type of IPV examined.
Violence and Victims 01/2010; 25(5):617-30. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Little is known about how the social environment of homeless youth contributes to their risk and how it varies for different types of victimization. As such, the current study examines the constructs of victimization theories in order to investigate the potential risk for physical and sexual victimization among homeless young adults. Results revealed that running at an earlier age, running more often, sleeping on the street, panhandling, deviant peers associations, and not having a family member in one's network are associated with more physical victimization. Being female, a sexual minority, having an unkempt physical appearance, panhandling, and having friends who traded sex are associated with more sexual victimization. Overall, we find that the constructs differed in their ability to explain sexual versus physical victimization.
Violence and Victims 01/2010; 25(1):101-15. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated risk factors for discrepant reporting of physical and sexual abuse among 172 homeless young adults. Discrepant reporting includes situations in which a respondent denies experiencing abuse in general but reports being a victim of specific forms of maltreatment. The results revealed that discrepant reporting rates tended to be highest for minor physical assault and for noncontact sexual abuse. Multivariate results revealed that demographic characteristics were important correlates of both discrepant physical and sexual abuse reporters. Family background characteristics also played a role in discrepant reporting for physical abuse. Overall, some young people with abuse histories are not adequately labeling their maltreatment experiences and, as a result, may not be receiving the necessary treatment.
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 09/2009; 18(5):513-31. · 0.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: One of the most prevalent forms of violence in contemporary society is the victimization of intimate partners. Although it has been established that homeless young people experience high levels of victimization on the street, little is known about partner violence (PV) experiences among this group, especially bidirectional violence. As such, the purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of PV and bidirectional violence and to investigate risk factors and outcomes of this form of violence using a sample of homeless young adults. Overall, 59% of the sample experienced bidirectional violence. Multivariate results reveal that sexual abuse and neglect are significant correlates of PV. In addition, being either a victim or perpetrator of PV is associated with more severe substance use and higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Finally, there is support for bidirectional violence among homeless young adults even after controlling for early histories of maltreatment.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 06/2009; 24(6):1014-35. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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Kimberly A Tyler
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ABSTRACT: Although research finds high rates of risky sexual and drug related behavior among homeless young people, little research had examined how the characteristics of their social networks encourage or constrain risky behaviors. Based on a sample of 145 homeless young adults in the Midwestern United States, results revealed that having used alcohol with at least one of their network members and the presence of more conflict was associated with engaging in a greater number of sexual risk taking behaviors. Correlates of engaging in a greater number of substance use related behaviors included having older peers within the network, having used illicit drugs with at least one network member, and the presence of more conflict. The presence of a family member in one's network, however, was associated with fewer sexual and drug related risk behaviors. Overall, the social network characteristics of youth explained significant, additional variance beyond that of youth's own characteristics and their early family histories.
Social Science Research 07/2008; 37(2):673-85. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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Kimberly A Tyler
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ABSTRACT: Although high rates of sexual victimization have been reported among homeless youth, less is known about whether the risk factors vary for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth compared to heterosexual youth. Based on a sample of 172 homeless young adults ages 19 to 26, results revealed that depressive symptoms, prostitution, and having friends who traded sex were significantly associated with higher levels of sexual victimization. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young adults experienced more sexual victimization compared to heterosexual young adults. A test for interactions revealed that the effect of sexual orientation on sexual victimization was moderated by trading sex and having friends who traded sex. Finally, there is support for partial mediation of the effects of sexual abuse, neglect, and depressive symptoms on sexual victimization through other risk factors.
Violence and Victims 02/2008; 23(5):586-602. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 01/2008; 49(3-4):308-329.
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ABSTRACT: The study examined risk factors for having ever contracted sexually transmissible infections (STI) among a high-risk sample in midwestern USA.
A cross sectional survey was conducted among 428 homeless youth aged 16-19 years. Assessed correlates included child maltreatment, street exposure, sexual histories, street experiences and substance use.
Multivariate analyses revealed that males were 86% less likely to have had STI compared with females (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06-0.31). Blacks were almost four times more likely (AOR = 3.71; 95% CI = 1.80-7.63) and other races were over two times more likely (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.08-4.67) to have had STI compared with whites. For every one unit increase in the number of times youth ran away, there was a 3% increase in the likelihood of ever having had an STI (AOR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). For every one unit increase in frequency of condom use there was a 61% decrease in the likelihood of an STI (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.10-1.76). Finally, youth who traded sex were approximately 2.5 times more likely to have had STI compared with youth who did not trade sex (AOR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.04-5.34). None of the remaining correlates approached multivariate significance.
The amount of time youth spend on the street, their sexual practices, and their subsistence strategies are important correlates of STI and females and non-whites are particularly vulnerable among this high-risk population.
Sexual Health 04/2007; 4(1):57-61. · 1.45 Impact Factor
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Kimberly A Tyler
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ABSTRACT: Using intensive qualitative interviews with 40 homeless youth, this study examined their early family histories for abuse, neglect, and other family problems and the number and types of transitions that youth experienced. Multiple forms of child maltreatment, family alcoholism, drug use, and criminal activity characterized early family histories of many youth. Leaving home because of either running away or being removed by child protective services often resulted in multiple transitions, which regularly included moving from foster care homes to a group home, back to their parents, and then again returning to the streets. Although having experienced family disorganization set youth on trajectories for early independence, there were many unique paths that youth traveled prior to ending up on the streets.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 11/2006; 21(10):1385-93. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study examined the circumstances surrounding a homeless youth's "decision" to trade sex for food, money, shelter, or drugs. Forty homeless youth in 4 Midwestern states participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. Interviewers recruited youth both through service agencies and through street outreach. The findings revealed that approximately 1/3 of the sample had some experience with trading sex, whether it was in the form of having traded sex, having been propositioned to trade sex but having refused, or having friends or acquaintances that had traded sex. Young people's reports indicated that they had traded sex for things they deemed necessary in order to survive (i.e., food, shelter, money, or drugs), and that they did not want to trade sex, but did so because they were desperate and lacked alternatives. Additionally, others were coerced, manipulated, or forced to do so; thus indicating that the decision to trade sex is not always voluntary. We discuss the implications of these findings in terms of cumulative effects on youths' later development. Directions for future research among this population are also discussed.
The Journal of Sex Research 09/2006; 43(3):208-16. · 2.53 Impact Factor
