Selling sex in a population-based study of high school seniors in Sweden: Demographic and psychosocial correlates

Adolescents reporting selling sex for payment were studied with respect to socioeconomic background, perceived mental health and health behavior, antisocial behavior, sexual experiences, including sexual abuse and abusive behaviors, and the use of pornography. The sample consisted of a representative sample of 4,339 students (response rate, 77.2%) from the third year of upper secondary schools in five Swedish cities. Of the participating adolescents, 1.8% of the boys and 1.0% of the girls indicated that they had sold sex for money or other reimbursements. Selling sex was associated with having an immigrant background, higher level of unemployment in the family, and studying a practical/vocational program. Adolescents with the experience of selling sex had an increased risk for different psychosocial problems, such as poorer mental health, weekly use of alcohol, and antisocial behaviors. The adolescents selling sex were also characterized by having had a greater number of sexual experiences, a greater preoccupation with sex, relatively early sexual debut, and experience with sexual abuse as victim and/or perpetrator. The index group students watched pornography more frequently than the majority and they also watched more deviant forms of pornography. The significance of the higher frequency among boys and the gray zone between normal sexual exploration and prostitution are discussed

The Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescents' Sexuality

What experiences do young people have when it comes to sexual offences and sexual abuse? Is exchange of sex for payment uncommon among young people? Do adolescents agree with attitudes that promote sexual offences? What are the prevalence rates of sexual offences and sexual abuse? What experiences, problems, and attitudes do sexual offenders report? These are the main questions on which this survey is based. The respondents amount to about 20 000 adolescents, divided between the following six countries in the Baltic Sea Area: Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and North-West Russia. Some of the countries are considerably different when it comes to social welfare systems, religion, and culture. Such discrepancies allow for interesting comparisons in the field of sexuality, sexual offence, and sexual abuse. The respondents are in their late teens, the majority about 18 years old. At this age most people have developed a sexual identity, and most people have had sexual experiences. Some respondents may even be sexual offenders. Due to the young age of the respondents, memories of sexual offences or sexual abuse are less likely to be distorted. The report presents some of the findings. Each country is presented separately. On some dimensions the countries turn out to be quite similar. In the area of sexual offences and sexual abuse, though, there are som important variations. The differences indicate that social conditions, culture, and religion impact both the experiences and the attitudes of young people

The Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescents' Sexuality

What experiences do young people have when it comes to sexual offences and sexual abuse? Is exchange of sex for payment uncommon among young people? Do adolescents agree with attitudes that promote sexual offences? What are the prevalence rates of sexual offences and sexual abuse? What experiences, problems, and attitudes do sexual offenders report? These are the main questions on which this survey is based. The respondents amount to about 20 000 adolescents, divided between the following six countries in the Baltic Sea Area: Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and North-West Russia. Some of the countries are considerably different when it comes to social welfare systems, religion, and culture. Such discrepancies allow for interesting comparisons in the field of sexuality, sexual offence, and sexual abuse. The respondents are in their late teens, the majority about 18 years old. At this age most people have developed a sexual identity, and most people have had sexual experiences. Some respondents may even be sexual offenders. Due to the young age of the respondents, memories of sexual offences or sexual abuse are less likely to be distorted. The report presents some of the findings. Each country is presented separately. On some dimensions the countries turn out to be quite similar. In the area of sexual offences and sexual abuse, though, there are som important variations. The differences indicate that social conditions, culture, and religion impact both the experiences and the attitudes of young people

Child physical abuse, declining trend in prevalence over 10 years in Sweden

Aim To study trends in prevalence and risk factors of child physical abuse over 10 years in Sweden. Methods This study analysed responses from school surveys in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017 in Sodermanland County, Sweden with average 5125 respondents per year, 15 and 17 years old. There were identical questions on exposure to violence and risk factors including parental employment, separated parents, disability or disease, foreign background and lack of adult support. Intimate partner violence was included at three occasions. Data were analysed with bi- and multivariate models, and mean of accumulated risks were compared. Results Child physical abuse decreased significantly between 2008 and 2017. Repeated abuse decreased to a less degree than abuse once. In bivariate analyses, the share of risk factors declined for those exposed to physical abuse. In multiple analyses, it was found significant associations with exposure. There was and a dose-relationship between numbers of accumulated risk categories and self-reported abuse. Conclusion Exposure to child physical abuse decreased substantially between 2008 and 2017. However, prevalence of abuse is still unacceptable, and the finding that prevalence of the more severe forms of CPA decreased less during the same time, draws attention to the need of ongoing efforts

Voluntary sexual exposure online among Swedish youth - social background, Internet behavior and psychosocial health

Studies have described the phenomenon of voluntary sexual exposure among youth online but only a few focus on the typical young person who has this experience. The purpose of this study was to investigate Swedish youth with experience of voluntary sexual exposure online, with regard to Internet behavior, social background, and psychosocial health including parent-child relationships. A representative sample of 3503 Swedish youths in their third year of high school completed a survey about Internet behavior, Internet-related sexual harassment, sexuality, health, and sexual abuse. Out of those taking part in the survey, 20.9% (19.2% boys and 22.3% girls) reported experiences of voluntary sexual exposure online. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between voluntary sexual exposure online and a number of different forms of harassment online. Neither poorer psychosocial health nor problematic relationships with parents remained significant in the final model. The results underlined the fact that voluntary sexual exposure online is associated with vulnerability on the Internet among both boys and girls and that there is a need for parents and professionals to better understand what young people do on the Internet and the risks they may incur. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Functions of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses in a Large Community Sample of Adolescents

Given that nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent in adolescents, structured assessment is an essential tool to guide treatment interventions. The Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM) is a self-report scale that assesses frequency, methods, and functions of NSSI. FASM was administered to 3,097 Swedish adolescents in a community sample. With the aim of examining the underlying factor structure of the functions of FASM in this sample, the adolescents with NSSI who completed all function items (n = 836) were randomly divided into 2 subsamples for cross-validation purposes. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the mean and variance adjusted weighted least squares (WLSMV) estimator in the Mplus statistical modeling program. The results of the EFA suggested a 3-factor model (social influence, automatic functions, and nonconformist peer identification), which was supported by a good fit in the CFA. Factors differentiated between social/interpersonal and automatic/intrapersonal functions. Based on learning theory and the specific concepts of negative and positive reinforcement, the nonconformist peer identification factor was then split into 2 factors (peer identification and avoiding demands). The resulting 4-factor model showed an excellent fit. Dividing social functions into separate factors (social influence, peer identification, and avoiding demands) can be helpful in clinical practice, where the assessment of NSSI functions is an important tool with direct implications for treatment

Maternal temperament and character : associations to child behavior at the age of 3 years

Background The influence of maternal temperament on child behavior, and whether maternal temperament impact boys and girls differently is not thoroughly studied. The aim was to investigate the impact of maternal temperament and character on child externalizing and internalizing problems at age 3. Methods A birth-cohort of 1723 mothers and their children were followed from birth to age 3. At the childs age of 3 months, the mothers filled out standardized instruments on their temperament and character using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). At the childs age of 3 years, the mothers reported on child behavior using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Results Maternal temperamental trait novelty seeking was positively associated with externalizing problems in the total population and in girls. Harm avoidance was positively associated with externalizing problems in the total population and in boys, and with internalizing problems in the total population and boys and girls respectively. Maternal character traits of self-directedness and cooperativeness were negatively associated with both externalizing and internalizing problems in the total population and in boys and girls respectively. Conclusions Maternal character traits were more influential on child behavior than were temperamental traits, and thus the opportunities for intervention targeted at parental support are good. Maternal mental health and socioeconomic aspects also increased the risk for child behavior problems, indicating the need for recognition and support in clinical settings.Funding Agencies|Skandia Research</p

Adolescents' Lifetime Experience of Selling Sex: Development Over Five Years

Lifetime experience of selling sex among adolescents was investigated together with sociodemographic correlates, parentchild relationship, and the existence of people to confide in. Changes over time regarding the selling of sex were investigated through a comparison of data from 2004 and 2009. This study was carried out using 3,498 adolescents from a representative sample of Swedish high school students with a mean age 18.3 years. Of these adolescents, 1.5% stated that they had given sexual services for reimbursement and both male and female buyers existed. The adolescents who had sold sex had a poorer parentchild relationship during childhood and had fewer people to confide in about problems and worries. Changes over time were found especially regarding the Internet as a contact source and also immigrant background

Adolescents selling sex: Exposure to abuse, mental health, self-harm behaviour and the need for help and support-a study of a Swedish national sample

Svensson F, Fredlund C, Svedin CG, Priebe G, Wadsby M. Adolescents selling sex: Exposure to abuse, mental health, self-harm behaviour and the need for help and support-a study of a Swedish national sample. Nord J Psychiatry 2013; 67: 81-88. Background: Selling sex is not uncommon among adolescents and we need to increase our knowledge of how this affects them. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents who sell sex regarding sexual, mental and physical abuse, mental health as estimated by using the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 (HSCL-25), self-harm behaviour and the adolescents' experience of receiving help and support. Methods: The study was carried out on a national representative sample of adolescents (mean age 18.3 years) in Swedish high schools in the final year of their 3-year programme. The study had 3498 participants and a response rate of 60.4%. Results: Of the adolescents, 1.5% stated that they had sold sexual services. The selling of sex was associated with a history of sexual, mental and physical abuse. Poorer mental health and a higher degree of self-harm behaviour were reported among the adolescents who had sold sex. Help and support was sought to a greater extent by adolescents who had sold sex but these adolescents were not as satisfied with this help and support as the other adolescents. Conclusions: Adolescents that sell sex are a group especially exposed to sexual, mental and physical abuse. They have poorer mental health and engage in more self-harm behaviour than other adolescents. They are in need of more help and support than other adolescents and it is reasonable to assert that more resources, research and attention should be directed to this group to provide better help and support in the future