title: Puerto Rican drug users experiences of physical and sexual abuse: comparisons based on sexual identities.
abstract: This study integrates the results of quantitative and qualitative methods to elucidate the association between sexual identity and physical and sexual abuse among Puerto Rican drug users. A structured questionnaire was administered to 800 subjects in New York and 399 in Puerto Rico. A total of 93 subjects (7.9%) self-identified as homosexual or bisexual. Gay males were significantly more likely than heterosexual males to report first occurrence of physical abuse by a family member in childhood. Both gay and bisexual males were more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to report first experiencing unwanted sex in childhood and intimate partner physical abuse later in life. Lesbians were more likely than female heterosexuals to report unwanted sex in childhood. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth life histories with 21 subjects and suggest that gay and lesbian subjects perceive antihomosexual prejudice on the part of family members as one cause of childhood physical and sexual abuse.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 00960-6032. afinlin@attglobal.net
authors.forename: H Ann
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Finlinson
authors.forename: Rafaela R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Héctor M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cólón
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soto López
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Carmen Negrón
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliver-Vélez
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deren
authors.forename: Jonny F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Andía
authors.forename: John G H
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine