History of abuse and psychological distress symptoms among female sex workers in two Mexico-U.S. border cities.
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.
Ulibarri
Monica D
MD
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
Semple
Shirley J
SJ
Rao
Swati
S
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
Fraga-Vallejo
Miguel A
MA
Bucardo
Jesus
J
De la Torre
Adela
A
Salázar-Reyna
Juan
J
Orozovich
Prisci
P
Staines-Orozco
Hugo S
HS
Amaro
Hortensia
H
Magis-Rodríguez
Carlos
C
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
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