title: Recalled Explanations for Adolescent Girls' Engagement in Age-Discordant Sexual Relationships.
abstract: Age-discordant sexual relationships are associated with negative sexual health outcomes for adolescent females. We were particularly interested in females' motivations for engaging in these relationships, and in contextual factors that increase receptivity to age-discordant relationships in the United States (U.S.). However, recent research addressing this topic in the U.S. has been sparse. To address this gap in the literature, we recruited 15 women (Mdn age = 26 years; 93 % African American) from an urban, publicly funded sexually transmitted disease clinic to qualitative interviews. Reasons given by women for their involvement in age-discordant sexual relationships as adolescents included: (a) desire for an actively engaged father figure, (b) to obtain material support, (c) to escape from a troubled home life, and (d) to express independence and maturity. Thus, familial, economic, and developmental factors motivate socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescent females to enter into age-discordant sexual relationships. Efforts to reduce females' participation in these relationships will need to address socioeconomic vulnerability and family relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, One Wells Avenue, Newton, MA, 02459, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cort
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 255 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA. Theresa_Senn@URMC.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Theresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.affiliation: Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital and Brown University, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 255 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braksmajer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009042:Motivation; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Adolescent females; Age-discordant sexual relationships; Sexual behavior