Depression, Stress, and Social Support as Predictors of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors and STIs in Young Women

Mazzaferro, Kathryn E.; Murray, Pamela J.; Ness, Roberta B.; Bass, Debra C.; Tyus, Nadra; Cook, Robert L.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.02.004

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 39, Issue 4 , Pages 601-603, October 2006

Depression, Stress, and Social Support as Predictors of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors and STIs in Young Women

Kathryn E. Mazzaferro, B.S.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Address correspondence to: Ms. Kathryn E. Mazzaferro, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto St., A530 Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
Pamela J. Murray, M.D.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Roberta B. Ness, M.D., M.P.H.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Magee Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Debra C. Bass, M.S.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nadra Tyus, M.P.H.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Robert L. Cook, M.D., M.P.H.
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Received 30 August 2005; accepted 8 February 2006. published online 28 June 2006.

Abstract

A total of 403 women (aged 14–25 years) were surveyed to determine the association of psychosocial variables with risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Depression, stress, and low social support were associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and past STIs. When comparing adolescent women (aged 14–19) to young women (aged 20–25), the adolescents had stronger associations with the outcome variables.