scholarly journals The Contraceptive Behavior of Young Women Raised in Foster Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Enrique Espinoza ◽  
Angela Rabl ◽  
Lucas Enrique Espinoza

This study investigated the relationship between parental gure sex education and former foster alumni’s contraceptive behavior. Data from 75 women aged 18-25 from the 2011-2015 National Survey of Family Growth were analyzed. There was no association between parental gure sex education and contraceptive behavior (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.34–2.34, p > 0.05). Women with fewer sexual partners were less likely to use contraceptives than those who had multiple sex partners. Future research is needed to determine how the foster care system impacts partaking in high-risk sexual behaviors.

1995 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Simkins

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sexual behaviors of college students and assess the extent to which they were engaging in behaviors that have a risk for contracting AIDS. A total of 132 single sexually active students and 58 married students responded to a survey on their sexual behaviors and attitudes. Risk behaviors such as engaging in unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, practicing anal sex, alcohol use, and infidelity and deceptive communication with partner were examined. Compared with earlier surveys on the same population, there was an increase in concern about contracting AIDS and a significant increase in the percentage of students who took the AIDS antibody test. Although none indicated they would lie to partners about a seropositive AIDS test, a few would not tell their partner unless specifically asked. A small percentage of subjects would have extradyadic relations without informing their steady partners and a small number of respondents indicated they might continue to engage in sexual relations with a seropositive partner or a new partner who recently had a seronegative AIDS test. The risks most predominant in this sample were the practice of unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, and the consumption of alcohol in conjunction with sexual activity. With the exception of unprotected intercourse, the majority of respondents were engaging in behaviors that pose a minimal risk for contracting AIDS.


2021 ◽  
pp. 295-311
Author(s):  
Angela M. Kaufman-Parks ◽  
Monica A. Longmore ◽  
Wendy D Manning ◽  
Peggy C. Giordano

Much prior research acknowledges that peers influence adolescents’ sexual behaviors. Yet few studies have explored whether and how peers influence sexual decision making among emerging adults, especially among those in committed intimate partnerships, while also accounting for dynamics specific to the intimate relationship and respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study, this report examined multiple aspects of peer influence on three different sexual behaviors among emerging adults: sexual non-exclusivity, number of casual sex partners, and lifetime number of sex partners. It was found that having more sexually liberal peers and peers who engaged in criminal activity significantly influenced emerging adults’ self-reported numbers of casual and lifetime sex partners, as well as the frequency of engagement in sexually non-exclusive behaviors among those in committed dating, cohabiting, and marital partnerships. This report discusses potential theoretical mechanisms linking these relationships and provides suggestions for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor O’Brien ◽  
John T. Rapp ◽  
Erica D. Kierce

Approximately one third of children in foster care in the U.S. receive psychotropic medication; however, few studies have evaluated the extent to which either the number or dosage of drugs changes across time. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of Medicaid files for 30 individuals placed in a foster care system that included an analysis of 10 consecutive visits with a prescribing practitioner spanning 8–14 months. Specifically, we evaluated the data for evidence of deprescribing. Results indicate practitioners changed psychotropic medication during 70% of visits and most changes involved removing and adding psychotropic medication within the same class. Results also show 60% of visits across participants involved prescriptions for four or more psychotropic medications, whereas only 0.33% of trials involved no psychotropic medication. Furthermore, results show the mean number of psychotropic medications per foster child at the end of the study ( M = 3.97) did not decrease in comparison to the start of the study ( M = 3.53). Taken together, these results indicate that prescribers do not regularly engage in a clear deprescribing process for psychotropic medication when serving foster youth. We discuss some limitations to the current study and directions for future research on prescribing patterns with foster children.


2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Murray ◽  
Joseph W. Ciarrocchi ◽  
Nichole A. Murray-Swank

This study examines the relationship among levels of spirituality, religiosity, shame, and guilt on sexual attitudes and experiences. A convenience sample that included graduate and undergraduate students (N = 176; mean age = 37) completed a five-factor measure of personality as well as measures of spirituality, religiosity, shame, guilt, and sexual attitudes and experiences. Spirituality was negatively correlated with sexual permissiveness, and engaging in high risk sex. The moral emotion of shame increased when people had multiple sex partners within the past three months while those more spiritual or connected to God were less likely to have had sex after use of alcohol and/or drugs. Also, the more often someone attended religious services the less likely they were to have had multiple partners within the past three months. A sense of alienation from God predicted shame and guilt, but shame and guilt themselves did not predict sexual practices. These findings suggest that sexual attitudes and experiences are related to both spirituality and religious practices independently of personality, whereas they have no relationship to shame and guilt.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
A. Moutinho ◽  
G. Jorge ◽  
A.V. Pereira

The belief that alcohol can lead to sexual risk and/or sexual inadequate behaviors is nearly ubiquitous. But can we talk about causality? Several studies, with different methodology, have been developed during the last decades in an effort to understand the relationship between alcohol and sexual behaviors and function. From the knowledge that we already have, it is worth it to highlight alcohol consumption effects on cognitive appraisals, based on Response Conflict Model or Alcohol Myopia Model, as well as the expectancies effect. Future research is essential, specially to overcome the failures and limitations of the previous studies.


Author(s):  
Isabella Khoo ◽  
Jacqueline C.T. Close ◽  
Stephen R. Lord ◽  
Kim Delbaere ◽  
Morag E. Taylor

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Dementia and depression often coexist. Understanding how concomitant comorbidities affect function can improve assessment and management strategies. We examined the relationship between cognitive, psychological, and physical function and depressive symptoms in people with cognitive impairment. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Cross-sectional study using baseline data from the iFOCIS randomized controlled trial involving 309 participants with mild-moderate cognitive impairment. The association between cognitive (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III [ACE-III], Frontal Assessment Battery), psychological (Goldberg Anxiety Scale; Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale), and physical (Physiological Profile Assessment; Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) function, and quality of life (QoL), physical activity levels and activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]) were assessed (adjusted for age, sex, education, and ACE-III as appropriate). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Participants with depressive symptoms (GDS ≥4) had significantly more falls in the previous year and a higher number of comorbidities than people without depressive symptoms (GDS &#x3c;4). Each point increase in the GDS was associated with better memory, higher levels of anxiety and concern about falling, poorer balance, slower gait speed, and reduced QoL. The relationship between the GDS and poor balance and QoL withstood additional adjustment for comorbidity tertiles. The relationship between GDS and concern about falls withstood additional adjustment for previous falls (12 months) and SPPB scores. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Depressive symptomatology is associated with poorer physical and psychological function and reduced QoL in people with cognitive impairment. These factors should be considered when assessing and intervening in this group. Future research could examine these relationships longitudinally to establish causality and examine intervention efficacy in this group.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandhya Ramrakha ◽  
Charlotte Paul ◽  
Melanie L. Bell ◽  
Nigel Dickson ◽  
Terrie E. Moffitt ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Koniak-Griffin ◽  
Mary-Lynn Brecht

This study assessed AIDS risk behaviors, knowledge, and related attitudes of pregnant adolescents and young mothers (n = 151). Results revealed that a substantial portion of the sample engaged in sexual behaviors (e.g., unprotected sex and multiple sex partners) that increased their risk for acquiring HIV and possibly transmitting the disease to their children. Knowledge about major modes of HIV transmission was high; however, commonly held misconceptions were expressed concerning the spread of disease and methods of prevention. Results suggest that neither the experience of having an unplanned pregnancy nor knowing about HIV transmission was a sufficient motivator to reduce risk behaviors in this sample.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-326
Author(s):  
J. Kenneth Davidson ◽  
Carol Anderson Darling ◽  
Michael R. Penland

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