Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 17-24, January 2010

The Impact of Delinquency on Young Adult Sexual Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections

  • Matthew C. Aalsma, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Matthew C. Aalsma, Ph.D., Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 W. 10th Street, Room 1001, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
    • ,
  • Yan Tong, Ph.D., M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Biostatistics, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
    • ,
  • Sarah E. Wiehe, M.D., M.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Children's Health Services Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
    • ,
  • Wanzhu Tu, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Biostatistics, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Received 15 November 2008; accepted 30 May 2009. published online 06 August 2009.

Abstract 

Purpose

Youth in the juvenile justice system have increased sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, research exploring the effect of self-reported delinquency on sexual risk behavior and STI is limited, and results vary depending on the populations studied. Therefore, we used nationally representative data to examine the longitudinal association between delinquent behavior, sexual risk behavior, and STI among adolescents and young adults.

Methods

We used a sample of 10,828 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Health. Outcomes included STI and sexual risk behavior from Wave III (17–27-year-olds). Predictors for the generalized linear regression models (stratified by gender) include race, age, education, relationship status at Wave III, and delinquent behavior groups (life-course persistent, adolescence-limited, late-onset and nondelinquency).

Results

None of the delinquency groups were associated with young adult STI. Only life-course persistent delinquency was associated consistently with sexual risk behavior (except for condom use). The adolescence-limited and late-onset groups had limited effects on sexual risk outcomes.

Conclusions

Life-course persistent delinquency influences the expression of young adult sexual risk behavior. However, delinquent behavior does not predict STI in a population-based sample of youth. Programs and interventions that address the sexual health of youth need to consider the role of delinquency in shaping sexual risk behaviors, and future research should explore broader societal and environmental risk factors on STIs.

Keywords: Adolescent sexuality, Sexually transmitted disease, Delinquent behavior

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PII: S1054-139X(09)00240-7

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.05.018

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 17-24, January 2010

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