The impact of delinquency on young adult sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections

Citation

Aalsma, Matthew C.; Tong, Yan; Wiehe, Sarah E.; & Tu, Wanzhu (2010). The impact of delinquency on young adult sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Adolescent Health. vol. 46 (1) pp. 17-24

Abstract

Purpose

Youth in the juvenile justice system have increased sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, research exploring the effect of self-reported delinquency on sexual risk behavior and STI is limited, and results vary depending on the populations studied. Therefore, we used nationally representative data to examine the longitudinal association between delinquent behavior, sexual risk behavior, and STI among adolescents and young adults.
Methods

We used a sample of 10,828 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Health. Outcomes included STI and sexual risk behavior from Wave III (17–27-year-olds). Predictors for the generalized linear regression models (stratified by gender) include race, age, education, relationship status at Wave III, and delinquent behavior groups (life-course persistent, adolescence-limited, late-onset and nondelinquency).
Results

None of the delinquency groups were associated with young adult STI. Only life-course persistent delinquency was associated consistently with sexual risk behavior (except for condom use). The adolescence-limited and late-onset groups had limited effects on sexual risk outcomes.
Conclusions

Life-course persistent delinquency influences the expression of young adult sexual risk behavior. However, delinquent behavior does not predict STI in a population-based sample of youth. Programs and interventions that address the sexual health of youth need to consider the role of delinquency in shaping sexual risk behaviors, and future research should explore broader societal and environmental risk factors on STIs.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.05.018

Keyword(s)

Infections STD/STI Crime & delinquency Sexual Behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescent Health

Author(s)

Aalsma, Matthew C.
Tong, Yan
Wiehe, Sarah E.
Tu, Wanzhu

Year Published

2010

Volume Number

46

Issue Number

1

Pages

17-24

ISSN/ISBN

1054-139X

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.05.018

Reference ID

1235