Health behaviors and health outcomes in female childhood victimization survivors on probation and parole

• In Event: Structural Inequalities, Incarceration, and Probation

Abstract

Research demonstrates that experiences of childhood victimization have an affect on one’s health behaviors and health. In a sample of U.S. women, 51.9% reported a history of childhood victimization. Further, research indicates that victimization is amplified in women who are involved in the criminal justice (CJ) system. Women involved in the CJ system also have a history of increased involvement in multiple health risk behaviors. However, scarce research exists that identifies the affect of childhood victimization on health risk behaviors and health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

The present study utilized a sample of 406 women currently on probation and parole in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Five Factorial ANOVA analyses were run to examine group differences between those who had experienced childhood sexual victimization and those who had experienced physical victimization in relation to health risk behaviors and health.

Results indicate that sexual victimization yielded significant main effects for HIV risk behavior and physical health rating; while main effects for physical victimization were found for HIV risk behavior and alcohol use at the .05 significance level. No significant effects were found for drug use or smoking, as well as, no significant combined effects were found for any variables. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Tanya Rae Renn, University of Louisville

• Katherine M. Winham, University of Louisville