The Associations Between Gang Membership and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST): Findings From a Nationally Representative Study

Citation

Franchino-Olsen, H. & Martin, S. L. (2022). The Associations Between Gang Membership and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST): Findings From a Nationally Representative Study. Violence Vict.

Abstract

Adolescent gang membership has been proposed as a risk factor that creates individual-level vulnerability for domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and/or a context in which DMST may occur. This study investigates the gang membership-DMST association using data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the United States (n = 12,605). Bivariate results found gang-involved minors had 4.39 greater odds of experiencing DMST compared to non-gang-involved peers. Multivariable results found gang membership, violence victimization, delinquency, and certain demographic characteristics to be significantly associated with DMST. These findings emphasize the need to consider the context in an adolescent's life beyond DMST when designing policies and programs, and highlight the need for additional research into the gang membership-DMST association.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1891/vv-2021-0070

Keyword(s)

adolescence

Notes

Franchino-Olsen, Hannabeth

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Violence Vict

Author(s)

Franchino-Olsen, H.
Martin, S. L.

Year Published

2022

Edition

2022/05/17

DOI

10.1891/vv-2021-0070

Reference ID

9672