GENDER DIFFERENCES IN RISK BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH FORCED OR PRESSURED SEX

Objective: To determine whether gender-specific patterns of risk behav iors are associated with a self-reported history of ever having been f orced or pressured to have sexual intercourse among sexually active ad olescents. Subjects and Methods: In 1995, 21 297 eighth-through 12th-g rade students in 79 public and private schools in Vermont were anonymo usly surveyed. Data were analyzed for 7884 sexually active students (3 931 girls and 3953 boys). Demographic variables and indicators of viol ence, suicide, recent substance use, sexual behavior, pregnancy, and w eight control behavior were assessed. Data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the sexually active students, 30.3% of the girls and 9.9% of the boys reported ever being forced or pressu red to have sexual intercourse. Among sexually active girls, being in 1 or more physical fights in the past year (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-1.94), seriously considering suicide ( OR, 1.97; CI, 1.69-2.31), more years of sexual activity (OR, 1.52; CT, 1.43-1.61), not using a condom at last sexual intercourse (OR, 1.28; CI, 1.09-1.49), and having been pregnant more often (OR, 1.40; CI, 1.1 6-1.69) were associated with having been forced or pressured to have s ex. For sexually active boys, seriously considering suicide (OR, 1.64; CI, 1.23-2.20), more years of sexual activity (OR, 1.21; CI, 1.12-1.3 1), more male partners in the past 3 months (OR, 1.30; CI, 1.14-1.48), more female partners in the past 3 months (OR, 1.09; CI, 1.01-1.18), not using a condom at last sexual intercourse (OR, 1.37; CI, 1.03-1.82 ), having been involved in more pregnancies (OR; 1.64; CI, 1.29-2.08), and having vomited or used laxatives (OR, 3.44; CI, 2.18-5.43) were a ssociated with having been forced or pressured to have sex. Conclusion s: Patterns of risk behaviors differed among sexually active male and female adolescents reporting being forced or pressured to have sex. Ha ving been forced or pressured to have sex was associated with external izing behavior, such as fighting, among girls and with internalizing b ehavior, such as bulimia, among boys. These unexpected associations ha ve notable implications for screening adolescents for a history of hav ing been forced or pressured to have sex.