Psychological correlates of trading sex for money among African American crack cocaine smokers.
This article compares demographic characteristics, sexual practices, and psychosocial status among 193 African American female crack cocaine users who currently, previously, or never traded sex for money. Current traders were less likely to have a main sexual partner, more likely to have a casual sexual partner, and more likely to smoke larger quantities of crack. There was a significant trend towards current traders reporting lower self-esteem, greater depression and anxiety, poorer decision-making confidence, more hostility, less social conformity, greater risk taking behaviors, and more problems growing up, compared to previous and never traders. These differences suggest that interventions should address self-esteem, risk-taking practices, depression and anxiety as well as other psychosocial factors.
Risser
Jan M H
JM
Division of Epidemiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA. Jan.M.Risser@uth.tmc.edu
Timpson
Sandra C
SC
McCurdy
Sheryl A
SA
Ross
Michael W
MW
Williams
Mark L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011584:Psychology; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013781:Texas; D001741:Black or African American