The Associations Between Forced Sex and Severe Mental Health, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Asian American Women

Violence Against Women. 2017 May;23(6):671-691. doi: 10.1177/1077801216647797. Epub 2016 Jul 9.

Abstract

We examined the association between forced sex history and mental health, sexual health, and substance use among Asian American women ( n = 720); 14.3% of our sample ( n = 103) reported forced sex experiences. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that participants with forced sex histories were 2-8 times more likely to have higher rates of mental health problems, HIV risk behavior, and substance use. Qualitative analysis was used to supplement the quantitative results and give depth to our findings. Our results suggest that interventions for Asian American women who experienced forced sex should integrate mental health, substance use, and sexual health treatments.

Keywords: Asian American; Asian American women; HIV risk behaviors; depression; forced sex; mental health; rape; suicide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asian / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Mental Disorders / complications
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / etiology*
  • Rape / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Rape / psychology*
  • Risk
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / etiology*
  • United States