Research Article
Sexual Behaviors, Substance Use, and Mood in a Cohort of Homeless Youth: Comparisons between Homeless Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth
Seth Ammerman1*, Lisa Chamberlain2 and David Kardaztke31Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, USA
2Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, USA
3Associate Directors, Biostatistics, InterMune, Inc., USA
- *Corresponding Author:
- Seth Ammerman
Clinical Professor
Division of Adolescent Medicine
Department of Pediatrics
Stanford University, USA
E-mail: seth.ammerman@stanford.edu
Received Date: February 27, 2013; Accepted Date: March 27, 2013; Published Date: March 29, 2013
Citation: Ammerman S, Chamberlain L, Kardaztke D (2013) Sexual Behaviors, Substance Use, and Mood in a Cohort of Homeless Youth: Comparisons between Homeless Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth. J Child Adolesc Behav 1:103. doi:10.4172/2375-4494.1000103
Copyright: © 2013 Ammerman S, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Purpose: To directly compare sexual behaviors, substance use, and mood in a cohort of homeless heterosexual and sexual minority youth.
Methods: Utilizing a retrospective chart review, self-reported sexual behaviors, substance use, and mood were documented in a cohort of homeless youth ages 15-25 years old, who were seen on a mobile clinic over a 2-year period in 2008 and 2009.
Results: Both homeless heterosexual and sexual minority youth engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors, used multiple substances, and had mood disturbances. There were no significant differences between heterosexual and sexual minority youth concerning percent sexually active, 1st sexual activity age 15 or younger, total number of sexual partners, sexually transmitted disease history, use of tobacco, use of marijuana, intravenous drug use, current mood, history of depression, history of use of a psychiatric medication, or history of suicidality.
Conclusions: Homelessness may be a more critical factor for these youth engaging in risky behaviors, and having poor mood, than sexual orientation per se.
