Journal article
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Teen Sexual Behaviors: The Role of Self‐Regulation and School‐Related Factors
The Journal of school health, v 90(11), pp 830-841
Nov 2020
PMID: 32929742
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is limited evidence addressing the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adolescent sexual risk behaviors and pregnancy. In this study, we examined whether individual and cumulative ACEs increased the risk of unhealthy sexual behaviors and adolescent pregnancy. To inform intervention efforts, potential mediating mechanisms focusing on youth developmental assets were examined to explain the association.
METHODS
Analyses included 88,815 (9th and 11th grade) students who completed the Minnesota Student Survey in the spring of 2016.
RESULTS
Adolescents who reported each category of ACEs were more likely to initiate sex, have multiple sex partners, engage in unprotected sex, and be involved in pregnancy. Different youth assets, included self‐regulation skills, connectedness to school, not skipping school, and academic performance, were associated with lower likelihood of sexual initiation and sexual risk‐taking. They served as important mediators to reduce, though not completely diminish, the adverse effects of ACEs on sexual initiation and adolescent pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the relationship between ACEs and adolescent sexual risk behaviors and pregnancy is strong and graded. Effective school initiatives and intervention efforts should encourage the development of self‐regulation and connectedness to school among teens who had been exposed to ACEs.
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Details
- Title
- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Teen Sexual Behaviors: The Role of Self‐Regulation and School‐Related Factors
- Creators
- Wei Song - University of MinnesotaXueqin Qian - University of Kansas
- Publication Details
- The Journal of school health, v 90(11), pp 830-841
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 12
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000568989600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85090993148
- Other Identifier
- 991022123362204721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Education & Educational Research
- Education, Scientific Disciplines
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health