Scope of HIV risk and co-occurring psychosocial health problems among young adults: violence, victimization, and substance use.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the co-occurrence of sexual risk with violence, victimization, risky substance use, and drug-related problems among young adults.


METHODS
Data were collected from 3392 young adults drawn from California and Oregon as youth, as part of the RAND adolescent panel study. Logistic regression analyses were used to test differences in psychosocial health problems for participants at high, moderate, and low sexual risk, overall, and by gender.


RESULTS
Nearly 80% of young adults exhibited some degree of sexual risk. Both moderate (56%) and high (22%) HIV risks were associated with multiple forms of drug use, drug-related problems, violence and victimization. Males and females had similar relative risk profiles, but females reported higher rates of victimization in the form of partner abuse and sexual coercion. Over 80% of those at high sexual risk exhibited psychosocial health problems in at least 2 other areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual risk-taking is widespread among young adults and typically co-occurs with other psychosocial health problems. Interventions designed for young adults at high sexual risk should take into account their additional psychosocial problems; broad media campaigns may be useful for those at moderate risk.
Ellickson
Phyllis L
PL
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138, USA. phyllis_ellickson@rand.org
Collins
Rebecca L
RL
Bogart
Laura M
LM
Klein
David J
DJ
Taylor
Stephanie L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*