title: History of abuse and psychological distress symptoms among female sex workers in two Mexico-U.S. border cities.
abstract: This study examined histories of past emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as correlates of current psychological distress using data from 916 female sex workers (FSWs) who were enrolled in a safer-sex behavioral intervention in Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez, Mexico. We hypothesized that histories of abuse would be associated with higher symptom levels of depression and somatization and that social support would moderate the relationship. Nonparametric correlations and a series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that all forms of past abuse predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, and physical and sexual abuse were significantly associated with higher levels of somatic symptoms. Social support was also significantly associated with fewer symptoms of distress; however, it was not shown to moderate the relationship between abuse history and distress.
authors.affiliation: University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
authors.forename: Monica D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ulibarri
authors.forename: Shirley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fraga-Vallejo
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bucardo
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De la Torre
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salázar-Reyna
authors.forename: Prisci
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orozovich
authors.forename: Hugo S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Staines-Orozco
authors.forename: Hortensia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magis-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult