Exploring the Physical, Mental, and Social Health Issues of Sex Trafficking Victims by Stage of Exploitation

ABSTRACT

It is well established that experiencing human trafficking is associated with adverse consequences that are oftentimes substantial and enduring, including mental, physical, and social harms. Although health complications are recognized as being an important consideration in the response to victims, little is known about how these effects might vary depending on when victims were exploited or how they compare to individuals who have not experienced trafficking. Using a national sample of 986 young, non-college educated women, the current study seeks to fill this gap by examining the physical, mental, and social health issues of sex trafficking victims by stage of exploitation (i.e., minor only, adult only, both minor and adult) compared to non-sex trafficking victims. Results indicate significant associations between stage of exploitation and current social health issues, with limited significant associations between stage of exploitation and mental and physical health issues. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that victims may experience different types of health issues based on when they were exploited, which could inform future response efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Sex trafficking
• victimization
• health issues
• stage of exploitation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Francis Cullen, Bonnie Fisher, and Pamela Wilcox for their comments on the survey used here. The conclusions and opinions of this study are the sole responsibility of the authors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2022.2128128

Additional information

Funding

Data analyzed for this manuscript were originally collected through funding from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The opinions and conclusions of this project are the sole responsibility of the authors.