Janine M. Zweig

Predicting adolescent profiles of risk: looking beyond demographics

PURPOSE To identify vulnerability and protective factors related to profiles of risk encapsulating the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors. METHODS The current sample includes 12,578 high school students from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample. Four profiles of risk behaviors (sexual activity, general alcohol use, binge-drinking, cigarette use, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, fighting, and suicide) were compared separately by gender for factors in four domains: psychosocial adjustment, daily activities, school, and family. Data were analyzed using ordinary least-squares regression with follow-up contrast statements and multinomial logit regression. RESULTS Results indicate that profiles are related to factors in the psychosocial adjustment, school, and family domains. Students in the lowest risk profiles reported consistently higher levels of protective factors and lower levels of vulnerability factors than students in any other profiles. Likewise, students in the highest risk profiles reported consistently lower levels of protective factors and higher levels of vulnerability factors than those in any other profiles. Students in profiles of risk distinguished by higher levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors reported similar levels of vulnerability and protection as the highest risk profiles. Students in profiles consisting of sexually active, substance-using teens reported higher levels of protective factors and lower levels of vulnerability factors than both the highest risk profiles and the profiles distinguished by suicidal thoughts and behaviors. CONCLUSION Program staff and policymakers should recognize that different profiles of risk behaviors are related to varying levels of vulnerability and protective factors which have potential implications for preventive interventions.

Adolescent Health Risk Profiles: The Co-Occurrence of Health Risks among Females and Males

This analysis examines the complexity of adolescent health risk behaviors using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative study of students. The current sample includes 12,955 students (6,626 females and 6,329 males) in grades 9 through 12. Cluster analysis was conducted separately by gender to examine the interrelationships among eight health risk behaviors: sexual activity, general alcohol use, binge drinking, cigarette use, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, fighting, and suicide. Four distinct clusters for females and males were identified based on their profiles of risk-taking behavior. Females and males both report low- and high-risk profiles, and a risk profile with high alcohol use and sexual activity. Females have two distinct risk profiles, one that is highest on every measure of risk compared to others and one that has high levels of fighting and suicide with little participation in substance use or sexual activity. Males have a distinct risk profile with particularly high rates of marijuana use and suicidal behaviors. Few distinctions exist between profiles based on sociodemographic characteristics.

A Longitudinal Examination of the Consequences of Sexual Victimization for Rural Young Adult Women

This longitudinal study examined the consequences of sexual victimization in a sample of 237 young adult women from a rural community. Of the total sample, 71 (30%) reported experiencing some type of unwanted sex. Multiple regression was used to examine the effects on psychosocial adjustment of unwanted sex that occurred through nonviolent coercion and violent coercion, respectively, controlling for prior psychological adjustment. Results indicated that women who reported physically violent sexual coercion exhibited poorer psychological and social/relational adjustment than either nonvictimized women or women who had experienced nonviolent forms of sexual coercion. Additionally, nonviolent sexual coercion was associated with higher sexual depression, compared with nonvictimized status. A second set of regressions compared adjustment outcomes for women reporting four types of sexual coercion: (a) internal psychological pressure, (b) substance‐related coercion, (c) external psychological manipulation, and (...

Predicting Women's Perceptions of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agency Helpfulness What Matters to Program Clients?

Study goals were to assess if community agency interactions, the characteristics of services provided by staff, and the combinations of services received can predict womens perceptions of victim service helpfulness around domestic violence and sexual assault. Data were collected from agency representatives in 26 communities, and both women who used services and others living in the community (n = 1,509 women). Women found nonprofit victim services more helpful based on staff behavior in those agencies and the extent to which women felt control when working with staff; helpfulness of services was enhanced when agencies interacted with the legal system and other community agencies.

Assisting Women Victims of Violence Who Experience Multiple Barriers to Services

This study examines the extent to which programs for domestic violence and sexual assault gear services toward women facing multiple barriers (i.e., substance abuse disorders, mental health problems or learning disabilities, incarceration, and prostitution) and the unique problems such women encounter when accessing services. As part of a national evaluation, the authors interviewed staff from 20 programs focusing their service efforts on multibarriered women. Problems encountered by such women include lack of services dealing with multiple barriers, uneducated service providers, and batterers using womens barriers to further control or victimize them. This article describes the strategies programs use to meet these womens distinct needs.

Adolescent Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization: A Longitudinal Analysis of Rural Women

Longitudinal data were used to examine riskfactors for sexual victimization among 237 young adult rural women. In this sample, 8% reported experiencing forced sex (i.e., physically violent experiences) and a separate 22% reported experiencing coerced sex(i.e., external psychological manipulation, substance-related coercion, or internal psychological pressure.) Women who had more educated mothers had a greater probability of reporting forced sex. In addition, mothers’ education moderated the relationship between individual riskfactors and the probability of reporting forced sex. For women with less educated mothers, higher frequency of sexual activity during adolescence was related to an increased probability of reporting forced sex. For women with more educated mothers, higher frequency of sexual activity was related to a decreased probability of reporting forced sex. Frequency of sexual activity during adolescence was also related to coerced sex, with higher frequency of sexual activity predicting a greater probability of reporting coerced sex.

Using general strain theory to explore the effects of prison victimization experiences on later offending and substance use

We examine the relationship between victimization during incarceration and the likelihood of former prisoners’ subsequent criminal behavior and substance use from a general strain theory (GST) perspective. Data from the multi-site evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative were used, involving interviews with 543 men and 168 women in 12 states at four time points: once before prison release and 3 times after release. Path analyses show support for GST by indicating that prisoners who are physically assaulted or threatened have negative emotional reactions to such experiences, specifically hostility and depression, which increases their likelihood of violent criminal behavior and substance use after release.

Sexual assault within intimate partner violence: impact on helpseeking in a national sample.

SUMMARY Within intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault is often subsumed under the heading of physical abuse, but evidence suggests qualitative differences in outcomes when both types of abuse occur. This study explores the cumulative effect of sexual assault and physical abuse by a current or former intimate partner on helpseeking. Using a dataset of 1,072 IPV victims from 8 states, we found that women who had experienced sexual assault in addition to physical abuse (44%) used more help, but were also more likely to say that they did not seek help when they needed it. Among those who were aware of services, fear was the greatest obstacle to reaching out for help. Implications include the need for information on best practices in addressing the sequelae of both physical and sexual assault in victim service agencies.

Effects of Interactions among Community Agencies on Legal System Responses to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Stop-Funded Communities

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program is a federal funding stream that promotes institutionalized system change in communities, such that women victims of violent crime can encounter a supportive and effective response from the criminal and civil justice systems and from victim service (VS) programs. This analysis assesses the degree to which receipt of STOP funding for nonprofit VS programs and state-level STOP program support for collaboration has led to greater community interaction and legal system outcomes. It also examines whether types of interaction among community agencies are related to post-STOP legal system responses to victims. Changed interactions among nonprofit VS programs, law enforcement, and prosecution staff members seem to lead to changes in the legal systems approach to handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases. They also assist communities in meeting the needs of victims.

Predicting Case Outcomes and Women’s Perceptions of the Legal System’s Response to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Does Interaction Between Community Agencies Matter?

The goals of the current study were to assess if domestic violence and sexual assault case outcomes and women’s perceptions of legal system response can be predicted by the level of interaction between community agencies and the level of legal system response after communities receive STOP funding. A total 1,509 interviews were conducted with women living in 26 communities. Two samples were included: (a) a Help Seeker sample recruited from nonprofit victim service agencies and their legal system agency partners, and (b) a Community sample of women ages 18 to 35 recruited through random digit dialing of households. Results show that women’s perceptions of whether community agencies were working together to assist her and her case significantly and positively related to arrests in domestic violence and sexual assault cases and to convictions in domestic violence cases. It also increases women’s beliefs that law enforcement and prosecution are effective agencies.