Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Associations between parental deployment, relocation, and risky sexual behaviors among a clinic-based sample of military-dependent youth
Journal Name
Journal of Primary Prevention
Journal Volume
36
Issue Number
5
Page Numbers
351-359
DOI
10.1007/s10935-015-0399-y
Summary
Among the relatively understudied military-dependent youth population the prevalence of sexual behaviors and the association between these behaviors and unique military stressors such as parental deployment and multiple relocations were analyzed.
Key Findings
More than half (54 %) of the youth reported being sexually experienced, and many of these youth reported engaging in risky sexual behaviors.
There were no significant associations between parental deployment and multiple relocations and youth engaging in risky sexual behaviors
Parent’s branch of service was significantly associated with risky sexual behavior: youth whose parents were in the Army and Marine Corps were more likely than those whose parents were in the Air Force or Navy to report ever having had sex.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop a curriculum about effective strategies used to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy targeted towards military-dependent youth
Provide teen friendly health care services and comprehensive sexual/reproductive health counseling
Support on-going teen lead groups that promote safe sex and reproductive health
Implications for Policy Makers
Support awareness campaigns that promote safe sex and reproductive health among military-dependent youth
Encourage awareness among military professionals on the importance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health for military-dependent youth
Extend and support policies that include military-dependent youth and their reproductive health
Methods
Recruitment was based upon a sample of military-dependent youth who attended an adolescent health clinic located at a military treatment facility in the southern U.S.
Sexual behaviors were assessed using a five items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Participants took a 5-item survey in a private room before or after an appointment.
Prevalence estimates and Chi-square analyses, as well as logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Participants
Participants included 208 military dependent youth aged 15-19 years old.
Out of 208 youth participants, 31% identified as White, 23% as Black, 19% as Hispanic, and 27% as other.
Sixty-three percent of the parents of the participants were retired from the military, while 27% were Active Duty/Reserves, with 25% from the Air Force, 67% from the Army/ Marine Corps, and 8% from the Navy.
Limitations
A purposeful sample was used from one military training facility, so the prevalence of sexual behaviors may not be representative of those in the general population.
The convenience sample was majority female and included many youth whose parents were retired from the military, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
Different aspects of deployment were not assessed (e.g. timing of the deployment, deployments to noncombat areas, or length of deployment), which limits the generalizability of the findings.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine the associations between military-dependent youth and other dimensions of deployment, such as the timing of the deployment or deployments to non-combat areas
Investigate the frequency of relocations and the association with sexual behaviors
Explore additional military-dependent youth populations not necessarily associated with a military treatment facility
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Although sexual behaviors have been extensively studied among youth in general, they have been relatively understudied among military-dependent youth (MDY). Furthermore, the impact of unique military stressors, such as parental deployment and multiple relocations, on the sexual behaviors of MDY has not been assessed. In this pilot study, we estimated the prevalence of sexual behaviors among MDY, and examined the association between these behaviors and parental deployment and multiple relocations. Between June and September 2011, we recruited youth (N = 208; aged 15_19 years) who attended a military treatment facility in the southern United States, to complete a short, paper-based survey. We computed prevalence estimates and conducted Chisquare analyses, as well as logistic regression analyses, while adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. More than half (53.7 %) of the youth reported being sexually experienced, and many of these youth reported engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Parental deployment and multiple relocations were significantly associated only with having had sex in the past 3 months. Although with most sexual behaviors there was no significant association between parental deployment and multiple relocations, many MDY are sexually experienced and engage in risky sexual behaviors. MDY should thus be exposed to evidence based strategies for sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy prevention, as well as provided with teen-friendly health care services and comprehensive sexual/reproductive health counseling.
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