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S. Bryn Austin, ScD, Andrea L. Roberts, PhD, Heather L. Corliss, MPH, PhD and Beth E. Molnar, ScD

S. Bryn Austin is with the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. Heather L. Corliss is with the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Boston. Andrea L. Roberts and Beth E. Molnar are with the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to S. Bryn Austin, ScD, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: bryn.austin{at}childrens.harvard.edu).

Objectives. We sought to examine sexual violence victimization in childhood and sexual risk indicators in young adulthood in a primarily Latina and Black cohort of "mostly heterosexual" and heterosexual women in the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN).

Methods. In 2000, a comprehensive survey that assessed sexual orientation, sexual risk indicators, and sexual abuse victimization was completed by 391 young women (aged 18 to 24 years) who had participated in PHDCN. We used multivariable regression methods to examine sexual orientation group differences in sexual risk indicators and to assess whether childhood sexual abuse may mediate relationships.

Results. Compared with self-reported heterosexual women, self-reported "mostly heterosexual" women were more likely to report having been the victim of childhood sexual abuse, to have had a sexually transmitted infection, to report an earlier age of first sexual intercourse, and to have had more sexual partners. Childhood sexual abuse did not mediate relationships between sexual orientation and sexual risk indicators.

Conclusions. Our findings add to the evidence that "mostly heterosexual" women experience greater health risk than do heterosexual women. In addition, "mostly heterosexual" women are at high risk for having experienced childhood sexual abuse.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. L. Corliss, M. Rosario, D. Wypij, L. B. Fisher, and S. B. Austin Sexual Orientation Disparities in Longitudinal Alcohol Use Patterns Among Adolescents: Findings From the Growing Up Today Study Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 2008; 162(11): 1071 - 1078. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]