Experience of workplace harassment and sexual health outcomes among young adult African American women

Background: Minority women experience disproportionate levels of workplace

harassment. Experiencing workplace harassment has been associated with negative health outcomes including depression and drinking behavior. To date, no studies have examined the association between workplace harassment and sexual health outcomes.

Methods: Baseline data were assessed from an STI/HIV prevention intervention for African American women (N=848) aged 18 – 29 recruited from three Kaiser Permanente Centers in Atlanta, GA. Data collection included 1) a survey of demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral measures and 2) self-collected, laboratory-confirmed vaginal swabs for trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association of verbal sexual harassment (inappropriate comments), physical sexual harassment (inappropriate touching), and threatening harassment (bribery and threats) with incident STIs, multiple sexual risk behaviors, and key psychosocial mediators.

Results: Nearly three quarters of participants reported ever experiencing workplace harassment (74.6%). Controlling for demographic variables, experiencing threatening harassment was associated with having an incident STI (OR=1.67, 95% CI =1.05-2.63, p =.03), inconsistent condom use in the past 6 months (OR =1.94, 95% CI=1.07-3.50, p =.029), and an increase in perceived condom use barriers (p=.001). Experiencing physical sexual harassment was associated with increased odds of having multiple sexual partners in the past 6 months (OR=1.58, 95% CI=1.10-2.27, p =.014).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that workplace harassment, particularly threatening harassment, can be a significant risk factor for incident STIs and risky sexual behavior. Future STI/HIV prevention efforts geared towards young adult African American women may benefit from addressing workplace harassment.