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Individual and Environmental Protective Factors for Risky Sexual Behavior among Homeless Youth: An Exploration of Gender Differences

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Abstract

The goal of the current study was to identify potential individual and environmental protective factors for sex risk behavior among homeless youth. We explored gender differences in the prediction of unprotected sex and number of sex partners. Data were collected from 192 sexually active, homeless youth who were 14–21 years old. High rates of sex risk behavior were reported. Significant gender differences were found in STD rates with 19% of females and 2% of males reporting an STD diagnosis during the previous three months. Findings indicated that positive expectations for the future were associated with fewer sex partners for both genders, whereas decision making skills predicted a lower percentage of unprotected sex for males and fewer sex partners for females. For females, univariate analyses indicated that self-esteem and having a natural mentor may reduce the likelihood of unprotected sex, whereas multivariate analysis indicated that being employed or in school may play a protective role with respect to number of sex partners.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA015012) and the William T. Grant Foundation to the second author. We would like to thank the youth and the youth serving agencies that made this study possible, as well as the many research staff members involved in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Community Health, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, 10920 Wilshire Building, Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Heather D. Tevendale

  2. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Marguerita Lightfoot

  3. Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia and BC Cancer Agency Sociobehavioural Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Suzanne L. Slocum

Authors
  1. Heather D. Tevendale
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  2. Marguerita Lightfoot
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  3. Suzanne L. Slocum
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Correspondence to Heather D. Tevendale.

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Tevendale, H.D., Lightfoot, M. & Slocum, S.L. Individual and Environmental Protective Factors for Risky Sexual Behavior among Homeless Youth: An Exploration of Gender Differences. AIDS Behav 13, 154–164 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9395-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9395-z

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