Mediation by peer violence victimization of sexual orientation disparities in cancer-related tobacco, alcohol, and sexual risk behaviors: pooled youth risk behavior surveys.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the role of adolescent peer violence victimization (PVV) in sexual orientation disparities in cancer-related tobacco, alcohol, and sexual risk behaviors.


METHODS
We pooled data from the 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. We classified youths with any same-sex sexual attraction, partners, or identity as sexual minority and the remainder as heterosexual. We had 4 indicators of tobacco and alcohol use and 4 of sexual risk and 2 PVV factors: victimization at school and carrying weapons. We stratified associations by gender and race/ethnicity.


RESULTS
PVV was related to disparities in cancer-related risk behaviors of substance use and sexual risk, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.6) to 11.3 (95% CI = 6.2, 20.8), and to being a sexual minority, with ORs of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.1, 1.9) to 5.6 (95% CI = 3.5, 8.9). PVV mediated sexual orientation disparities in substance use and sexual risk behaviors. Findings were pronounced for adolescent girls and Asian/Pacific Islanders.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions are needed to reduce PVV in schools as a way to reduce sexual orientation disparities in cancer risk across the life span.
Margaret Rosario is with the Department of Psychology, City College and Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY. Heather L. Corliss is with the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Bethany G. Everett is with the Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago. Stephen T. Russell is with the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson. Francisco O. Buchting is with the Horizons Foundation, CA. Michelle A Birkett is with the Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Margaret
M
Rosario
Heather L
HL
Corliss
Bethany G
BG
Everett
Stephen T
ST
Russell
Francisco O
FO
Buchting
Michelle A
MA
Birkett
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*