Title

History of Violence as a Predictor of HIV Risk among Multiethnic, Urban Youth in the Southwest

Department/School

Social Work

Date of this version

2009

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/15381500903025589

Abstract

This community-based exploratory study examined the effects of a history of violence, ethnic identification, and acculturation status on HIV risk among a majority Latino sample of youth living in a large metropolitan area of the Southwest in the United States. The participants reported high rates of violence and attitudes that put them at risk for HIV/AIDS infection. They participated in one of two prevention interventions offered by a local non-governmental organization. The first intervention was tailored for adjudicated youth (N = 49) who were either institutionalized or returning to the community after involvement with the criminal justice system. The second intervention targeted youth (N = 32) who were homeless/runaway and/or self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT). T-tests and linear regression were used to determine the differences between youth reporting a history of violence by type of perpetrator, its relationship with HIV risk, and the role of ethnic identification and acculturation status as potential protective factors. Violence by a family member was the most common type of violence reported, with a history of violence positively related to HIV risk. Ethnic identification and linguistic acculturation had a protective effect against HIV risk among the homeless and GLBT youth but not among the adjudicated youth.

Volume

8

Issue

2

Published in

Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Service

Citation/Other Information

Marsiglia, F. F., Nieri, T., Valdez, E., Gurrola, M., & Marrs Fuchsel, C. L. (2009). History of violence as a predictor of HIV risk among multiethnic, urban youth in the Southwest. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Service, 8(2), 144-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/15381500903025589

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