Mediation by peer violence victimization of sexual orientation disparities in cancer-related tobacco, alcohol, and sexual risk behaviors: Pooled youth risk behavior surveys

M. Rosario, H.L. Corliss, B.G. Everett, S.T. Russell, F.O. Buchting and M.A. Birkett

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 6, 1113-1123

Abstract: Objectives. We examined the role of adolescent peer violence victimization (PVV) in sexual orientation disparities in cancer-related tobacco, alcohol, and sexual risk behaviors. Methods. We pooled data from the 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys.We classified youths with any same-sex sexual attraction, partners, or identity as sexual minority and the remainder as heterosexual. We had 4 indicators of tobacco and alcohol use and 4 of sexual risk and 2 PVV factors: victimization at school and carrying weapons. We stratified associations by gender and race/ethnicity. Results. PVV was related to disparities in cancer-related risk behaviors of substance use and sexual risk, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.6) to 11.3 (95% CI = 6.2, 20.8), and to being a sexual minority, with ORs of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.1, 1.9) to 5.6 (95% CI = 3.5, 8.9). PVV mediated sexual orientation disparities in substance use and sexual risk behaviors. Findings were pronounced for adolescent girls and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Conclusions. Interventions are needed to reduce PVV in schools as a way to reduce sexual orientation disparities in cancer risk across the life span.

Keywords: adolescent; article; child; crime victim; drinking behavior; female; health disparity; high risk behavior; human; male; male homosexuality; neoplasm; peer group; sexual behavior; smoking; statistics; United States; unsafe sex; violence, Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Child; Crime Victims; Female; Health Status Disparities; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; Peer Group; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Smoking; United States; Unsafe Sex; Violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301764_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301764

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