Puerto Rican drug users experiences of physical and sexual abuse: comparisons based on sexual identities.
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.
Finlinson
H Ann
HA
Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 00960-6032. afinlin@attglobal.net
Robles
Rafaela R
RR
Cólón
Héctor M
HM
Soto López
Mayra
M
del Carmen Negrón
María
M
Oliver-Vélez
Denise
D
Deren
Sherry
S
Andía
Jonny F
JF
Cant
John G H
JG
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
D016578:Crack Cocaine