How Do Female Adolescents Cope and Survive the Hardships of Prostitution? A Content Analysis of Existing Literature

Abstract

This content analysis explores the hardships experienced by female adolescents involved in prostitution and the coping strategies they employ for their survival. Thirty-one studies published in peer-reviewed journals were analyzed. Results of this content analysis indicate that teenage girls involved in prostitution suffer from sexual and physical assaults, substance abuse, health problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social stigmatization, and isolation. Furthermore, adolescent girls used the following coping mechanisms for their survival: peer support, use of drugs and alcohol, and self-mutilation. Prostituted females relied on personal safety plans and boundaries to mitigate the violence and risks involved in prostitution. Implications for social work and multicultural social work practice, future research, and social policy are discussed.

Keywords:

• prostitution
• adolescents
• content analysis
• coping strategies
• survival strategies

Notes

This study was part of an MSW dissertation, which won the Best Thesis Award in 2008 at the College of Health and Human Services, California State University, Long Beach.