Substance Use and Childhood Sexual Abuse among Girls Who Are Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Background: Girls who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC) have high rates of substance use and childhood sexual abuse. We compared girls who are victims of CSEC and matched controls on childhood sexual abuse and substance use, and examined if substance use is associated with increased CSEC odds. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from assessments completed by 80 girls who were referred by the Department of Child Services (Mage=15.38, SD=1.3, 51.9%White). Results: CSEC girls reported higher substance use (t=-2.76, p=.007), and were more likely report childhood sexual abuse (χ2=6.85, p=.009). The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and substance use outcomes did not differ across the groups (b’s 0.12-1.38, p’s .22-.85). Substance use disorder diagnosis was associated with greater odds of being in the CSEC group (ORs 2.95-6.72, p’s<.05). Conclusions: Substance use and childhood sexual abuse are important risk indicators for exploitation, but should not be used to reduce criminality of CSEC perpetrators.

Keywords:

• Commercial sexual exploitation
• childhood sexual abuse
• substance use

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Ascent 121, particularly Megan Jessup and Hugh Hanlin, for the administration and collection of assessments used in the present study and the permission to use these data. We would also like to thank Jasmyn Sanders and Crisanna Chick for their work cleaning and coding these data.

Informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Declaration of interest

Authors Melissa Cyders, Taylor Hunton, and Alexandra Hershberger declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melissa A. Cyders

M. Cyders designed the study and completed primary writing of the manuscript. T. Hunton conducted literature summaries, contributed to the writing, and provided editorial support. A. Hershberger conducted the statistical analysis and supported development of the study design. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.

Taylor Hunton

M. Cyders designed the study and completed primary writing of the manuscript. T. Hunton conducted literature summaries, contributed to the writing, and provided editorial support. A. Hershberger conducted the statistical analysis and supported development of the study design. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.

Alexandra R. Hershberger

M. Cyders designed the study and completed primary writing of the manuscript. T. Hunton conducted literature summaries, contributed to the writing, and provided editorial support. A. Hershberger conducted the statistical analysis and supported development of the study design. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.