142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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308620
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Age at Sexual Debut among Sexual Minorities

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Monique J. Brown, MPH , Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Saba Masho, MD, MPH, DrPH , Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Briana Mezuk, PhD , Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Robert Perera, PhD , Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Steven A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH , Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including physical or sexual abuse, are major problems in the US.  A higher prevalence of ACEs are observed among sexual minorities compared to their heterosexual peers.  ACEs have been linked to risky sexual behavior and sexual minorities have been identified to be “high-risk” for early sexual initiation.  However, studies examining the relationship between ACEs and sexual debut among sexual minorities are scant.

Objective: To determine the association between ACEs and age at sexual debut among sexual minorities.

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol Related Conditions (2004-2005) (N=577).  Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine ACE factors.  Logistic regression was used to determine the association between ACEs and age at sexual debut (≤14, 15-17, ≥18 years) by sexual minority group.

Results: EFA of ACEs indicated three factors: sexual abuse (SA), neglect/other abuse, and parental psychopathology.  After controlling for age, income, race/ethnicity, education and marital status, MSM respondents who reported SA were 28 times more likely (95% CI: 20.9-37.1) to have sexual debut at ≤14 years compared to respondents who reported no exposure to ACEs.  After additionally controlling for gender, bisexual and gay/lesbian respondents who reported SA were 44 times (95% CI: 26.5–72.0) and 19 times (95% CI: 14.2–26.7) more likely, respectively, to have sexual debut at ≤14 years compared to respondents who reported no exposure to ACEs.

Conclusions: ACEs are associated with early sexual debut among sexual minorities and should be addressed in sexual health programs targeting these vulnerable populations.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify adverse childhood experiences factors using exploratory factor analysis Assess the association between adverse childhood experiences and age at sexual debut among sexual minorities

Keyword(s): Behavioral Research, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral candidate in Epidemiology in the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. I have completed extensive coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics. I have published prior research on adverse childhood experiences. I am also first author on a manuscript under review examining the association between meeting sex partners online, and HIV testing and STD history. This research involves examining this association among MSM populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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