Family violence exposure and sexual risk-taking among Latino emerging adults: the role of posttraumatic stress symptomology and acculturative stress

Peter M. Rivera, Melinda A. Gonzales-Backen, Jennifer Yedlin, Elissa J. Brown, Seth J. Schwartz, S. Jean Caraway, Robert S. Weisskirch, Su Yeong Kim, Lindsay S. Ham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study proposes that posttraumatic stress symptomology and acculturative stress may further explain the relationship between family violence exposure and sexual risk-taking behaviors among Latino emerging adults (N = 1,100). A moderated mediation analysis indicated that lifetime rates of family violence exposure were positively associated with sexual risk-taking via posttraumatic stress symptomology, and this mediation significantly varied as a function of acculturative stress. Overall, the findings of the current study underscore a need for a better understanding of how family violence exposure puts Latino emerging adults at risk for aversive health outcomes and suggest the use of an ecological systemic framework that examines the interactions between family, individual, and cultural systems in relation to health risk-taking behaviors.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalJournal of Family Violence
Volume30
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2015

Keywords

  • Child maltreatment
  • Cultural processes
  • Culture
  • Public health
  • Trauma

Disciplines

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology

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