The Impact of Sociosexualization and Sexual Identity Development on the Sexual Well-Being of Youth Formerly in the Foster Care System.
Adolescent
Child welfare
Foster care
Foster care alumni
Foster youth
Sexual health
Sexual identity
Sexual well-being
Young adult
Journal
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
ISSN: 1879-1972
Titre abrégé: J Adolesc Health
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9102136
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 2020
04 2020
Historique:
received:
03
06
2019
revised:
23
10
2019
accepted:
23
10
2019
pubmed:
23
1
2020
medline:
22
6
2021
entrez:
23
1
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Youth in the child welfare system experience disproportionate rates of negative sexual health outcomes as well as increased engagement in risky sexual behaviors. This study explored the impact of sociosexualization and sexual identity development on the sexual well-being of youth formerly in the foster care system. Two hundred and nineteen youth formerly in the foster care system completed an Internet-based survey, including measures of the level of sexuality-related topics discussion, relationship quality with the individual with whom the topics were discussed, adverse childhood experiences, severity of sexual abuse history, sexual identity development, and sexual well-being. Hierarchical regressions examined the impact of youths' sociosexualization experiences and four domains of sexual identity development on their sexual well-being. Sexual Identity Commitment was the strongest positive predictor of youths' sexual well-being (β = .428) followed by Sexual Identity Synthesis/Integration (β = .350) and Sexual Identity Exploration (β = .169). Sexual Orientation Identity Uncertainty negatively impacted sexual well-being (β = -.235), as did adverse childhood experiences (β range = -.150 to -.178) and sexual abuse severity (β range = -.208 to -.322). Sexuality-related discussions with foster parents negatively impacted youths' sexual well-being, whereas discussions with peers were a positive predictor. Enhancing youths' sexual identity development and reducing the impact of traumatic experience are critical to improving sexual well-being. The influence of sexuality-related discussions on sexual well-being requires further analysis as impacts varied widely. Public policies should provide guidance to professionals on what services should be provided to enhance youths' sexual development.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31964609
pii: S1054-139X(19)30876-6
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.10.025
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
439-446Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.