Attachment and sexual health behaviors in homeless youth.
OBJECTIVE
To explore relationships and group differences in attachment-related constructs (social connectedness and social support) and sexual health behaviors in a sample of homeless youth.


METHODS
An exploratory design, this study analyzed baseline data from an ongoing intervention study. Survey data were collected by audio, computer-assisted self-interview (A-CASI) from a nonprobability sample of homeless youth (n = 176).


RESULTS
Social connectedness was positively correlated with period of time homeless, while social support was positively related to sexual self-concept and to self-efficacy and intention to use condoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The street group that homeless youth identify with may be a potential resource for peer-mentoring and skill-building regarding healthy sexual behavior.
Taylor-Seehafer
Margaret
M
University of Texas at Austin-School of Nursing, Austin, TX, USA.
Johnson
Regina
R
Rew
Lynn
L
Fouladi
Rachel T
RT
Land
Lee
L
Abel
Elizabeth
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior