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Cited by 30Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthChild Abuse and Trauma

Experiencing sexual harassment by males and associated substance use & poor mental health outcomes among adolescent girls in the US

Open access
Reed, Elizabeth, Salazar, Marissa, Agah, Niloufar, Behar, Alma I., Silverman, Jay G, Walsh-Buhi, Eric, Rusch, Melanie L.A., Raj, Anita·2019·SSM - Population Health
DOI 10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100476PMC PMC6978506
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Abstract

PURPOSE: and relation to study outcomes. METHODS: We collected survey data from 159 sexually active girls (aged 15-19 years) recruited from an urban health clinic in Southern California. We used multivariable regression models to assess associations between sexual harassment in the past 6 months and the following outcomes: 1) substance use in past 30 days (alcohol use, binge drinking, and marijuana use, respectively); 2) other drug use ever; and 3) feelings of depression and anxiety, respectively, in past 30 days. RESULTS: Almost two-thirds of girls (65.4%) reported experiencing sexual harassment in the past 6 months. Among those reporting recent harassment (n = 104), the abuse most frequently occurred in public spaces (on public transport [50.5%], at school [42.7%], and in their neighborhoods [39.8%]) and most often in the form of sexual comments, jokes, or gestures (57.2%), although 12.6% were "touched, grabbed, or pinched in a sexual way." The vast majority (82.7%) did not know the perpetrators (82.7%). Experiences of sexual harassment in the past 6 months were significantly associated with alcohol use (odds ratio [OR], 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-10.2), binge drinking (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.8-9.8), and marijuana use (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.7) in the past 30 days; other drug use ever (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.8-16.4); and feelings of depression (OR: 2.7; 95%CI: 1.3-5.5) and anxiety (OR: 2.6; 95%CI: 1.2-5.5) in the past 30 days. Just over half (55.3%) reported sexual harassment in more than one place, which was also associated with poor substance use and mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that sexual harassment experiences are pervasive, occur in girls' immediate and everyday environments, and are associated with girls' substance use and adverse mental health outcomes.

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  • Going through an ordeal of sexual assault in adolescence is associated with mental health disorders (depression, anxiety), drug use, alcohol use and multiple sexual relations.

    “Different findings have revealed that going through an ordeal of sexual assault in adolescence is associated with mental health disorders (depression, anxiety), drug use, alcohol use and multiple sexual relations [44–46].”

    From Barriers to vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (2022) · cites this paper as [45]

    The Results section reports that adolescent girls who experienced sexual harassment had greater odds of alcohol and drug use and of feeling depressed or anxious. The study measured sexual harassment, not sexual assault specifically; it assessed feelings rather than diagnosed mental health disorders and did not report an association with multiple sexual relations. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • A history of sexual harassment in adolescent girls has serious negative consequences for them.

    “A history of sexual harassment in adolescent girls has serious negative consequences for them.”

    From Barriers to vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (2022) · cites this paper as [45]

    The Results report that girls who experienced sexual harassment had greater odds of substance use, depression, and anxiety than girls who had not (Results, “Associations between experiences with sexual harassment with substance use and mental health outcomes”). The claim’s unqualified wording implies established consequences, whereas the paper describes associations and says a longitudinal study is needed to establish their timing (Discussion, “Limitations”). (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Authors
Reed, E., Salazar, M., Agah, N., Behar, A. I., Silverman, J. G., Walsh-Buhi, E., Rusch, M. L. A., & Raj, A.
Affiliations
  • San Diego State University (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Reed, Elizabeth
ORCID
Venue
SSM - Population Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-12
Volume
9
Pages
100476
ISSN
2352-8273 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100476
PMC
PMC6978506
OpenAlex
W2990742960
Cited by
30
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4
FWCI
6.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • SSM - Population Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • IUScholarWorks Open (Indiana University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA023356, T32)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R21 HD073610)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH099969)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
sexual harassment, adolescent girls, male perpetrators, substance use, alcohol consumption, binge drinking, cannabis use, depression, anxiety, mental health outcomes, public space, urban youth

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