title: Stress Mediates the Relationship Between Past Drug Addiction and Current Risky Sexual Behaviour Among Low-income Women.
abstract: This study examined the role of stress as a mediator of the relationship between prior drug addiction and current high-risk sexual behaviour. Eight hundred twenty women aged 18 to 30 years, who received care at community-based family planning clinics, were interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the Sexual Risk Behavior Assessment Schedule. They also completed the brief version of the Self-Control Scale as a measure of problem-solving strategies and measures of recent stressful events, daily hassles and ongoing chronic stress. Regardless of addiction history, stress exposure during the previous 12 months was associated with risky sexual behaviour during the previous 12 months. Structural equation modelling revealed that 12-month stress levels mediated the relationship between past drug addiction and 12-month high-risk sexual behaviours, as well as the negative relationship between problem-solving strategies and high-risk sexual behaviours. Problem-solving strategies did not moderate the relationship between drug addiction and high-risk sexual behaviours. These findings suggest that stress management training may help reduce risky behaviour among young, low-income women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Z Helen
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tennen
authors.affiliation: Health Statistics and Data Management Unit, Department of Health and Human Service, Concord, NH, USA.
authors.forename: G M Monawar
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hosain
authors.affiliation: TRIPP Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coman
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullum
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Abbey B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Berenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: addiction; coping resources; drug use; risky sexual behaviour; stress; women