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Background: Many young parents have histories of childhood trauma that place them at risk for engaging in behaviors that may expose them to HIV/AIDS.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to increase understanding about the relationship between history of physical and sexual abuse and high-risk behaviors in adolescent mothers and fathers and to examine how parenthood influences risky behaviors. This study was part of a larger clinical trial examining the effects of a couple-focused HIV prevention program.
Conceptual Framework: The HIV prevention program incorporated principles from social-cognitive theory, the theory of reasoned action, gender and power, and “Healing the Wounded Spirit” (Tello, 1998).
Methods: In this experimental study participants were recruited from community settings in Los Angeles County and randomly assigned as couples to the HIV prevention program or an information-only control condition. Participants (N=336) were predominantly Latino, between 14 and 25 years of age, and were co-parenting one or more children. Prior to the intervention, young mothers and fathers completed a series of questionnaires administered in an interview format in either English or Spanish. Their responses to selected items are examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.
Results: Findings revealed that young mothers reporting a history of sexual abuse were more likely to have used marijuana in their lifetime and in the past month than those mothers who did not report a history of abuse. Similarly, lifetime use of both cocaine and methamphetamines were associated with a history of sexual abuse. The association between a sexual abuse history and substance use was also reported for young fathers, in particular lifetime use of cocaine and methamphetamines, as well as recent use of methamphetamines. Mothers who reported a history of physical abuse were more likely to have used alcohol and marijuana in the last month and were more likely to have a lifetime and current history of methamphetamine use. Associations were found between physical abuse, lifetime marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine use, and recent use of a weapon among young fathers.
Substance use was lower in the past month among both males and females in comparison to lifetime rates of use. Females reported greater decreases in rates of recent substance use than males. Smoking during the past month remained relatively high compared to cocaine and methamphetamine use. Over 41% of fathers reported using a weapon in the past 3 months. Active gang membership among fathers was reduced by more than 50%.
Conclusions: Findings show that a substantial number of young parents report histories of physical and/or sexual abuse, placing them at risk for substance use and violence-related behavior. Young mothers and fathers having a history of abuse were more likely to continue substance use into parenting than young parents without an abuse history. Nonetheless, many young mothers and fathers report positive behavior changes during the transition to parenthood, such as a decrease in substance use. These changes suggest that parenthood may provide a window of opportunity to promote health among high-risk Latino youth.