The impact of childhood sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among runaway youth

Path analysis was used to investigate the impact of childhood sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among 372 homeless and runaway youth in Seatt le. Young people were interviewed directly on the streets and in shelters b y outreach workers in youth service agencies. High rates of both childhood sexual abuse and street sexual victimization were reported, with females ex periencing much greater rates compared with their male counterparts. Early sexual abuse in the home increased the likelihood of later sexual victimiza tion on the streets indirectly by increasing the amount of time at risk, de viant peer affiliations, participating in deviant subsistence strategies, a nd engaging in survival sex. These findings suggest that exposure to dysfun ctional and disorganized homes place youth on trajectories for early indepe ndence. Subsequently, street life and participation in high-risk behaviors increases their probability of sexual victimization.