The effects of early sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among female homeless and runaway adolescents

Based on risk amplification and victimization theories, path analysis was u sed to investigate the effects of early sexual abuse on later sexual victim ization among 361 female homeless and runaway adolescents in four midwester n states. Results indicated that early sexual abuse in the home had a posit ive direct effect on sexual victimization of adolescents on the streets. Ea rly sexual abuse also increased the likelihood of later sexual victimizatio n indirectly by increasing the amount of time at risk, deviant peer associa tions, and incidents of survival sex. Young women who leave dysfunctional a nd disorganized homes often characterized by abuse continue on negative dev elopmental trajectories once they reach the streets. The social context of street life puts these adolescents in close proximity to potential offender s and exposes them to crime and criminals. The combination of a negative de velopmental trajectory and the high-risk street environment increases these young women's chances of being sexually victimized.