Toward a Multi-item Measure to Identify Involvement in and Circumstances of the Sex Trades: Findings from Cognitive Interviews

"I Think You Covered the Three Levels of Drugs and Consent": Qualitatively Testing Different Operationalizations of an Alcohol and Other Drugs-Involved Sexual Violence

Substance-involved rape is increasing among college students, particularly women (Koss et al., 2022). Addressing rape requires first measuring it accurately in surveys to understand its true scope and nature. We used cognitive interviews with 40 young adults to qualitatively test the construct validity of an alcohol- and other drugs (AOD)-involved rape item in the Sexual Experiences Survey by asking participants to comment on different operationalizations of this construct. Our findings revealed that different phrasings elicited different interpretations of the items by participants. Specifically, the results indicated that (1) respondents viewed the different operationalizations as a sequence of events with varying severity; (2) some participants focused on the intentionality and responsibility of the perpetrator as opposed to opportunistic perpetration; and (3) study participants consistently chose one of the operationalizations as describing "being roofied" (being drugged without consent). Participants also contributed additional scenarios not described in the questionnaire and shared their interpretations of the items. The results underscore the importance of refining survey language to properly measure AOD-involved rape and allow us to understand how to tailor appropriate questions for best comprehension. The findings indicate the benefit in including several items about AOD-involved rape in questionnaires such as the Sexual Experiences Survey, with each item addressing different scenarios of victim intoxication. The results could also have important implications for sexual violence prevention programs, which should discuss consent, intentions, and responsibility specifically in the context of AOD consumption.

The relationship between commercial sexual exploitation and foster care placement in the U.S.: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

There is evidence youth in foster care may be vulnerable to commercial and sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in the U.S. Youth in care may show vulnerabilities such as running away, identifying as sexual/gender minorities, or exhibiting complex behavioral and mental health needs. However, the nature and nuances of the relationship between CSEC and foster care placements has been largely unexamined.

OBJECTIVES

This review explores the literature on trafficking among foster care youth to establish what is known about risk factors, vulnerable populations, and leverage points for prevention and intervention.

METHODS

This scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eight databases were searched, and the screening process resulted in 16 final articles in the analysis.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles were screened into the current study. In reviewing the content, a few distinct themes emerged. First, the articles focused on three different populations of CSEC youth. Second, there was variability in the definitions of CSEC used by scholars. Third, there was a range of terms used to describe youth who were trafficked. Finally, there were broad differences in study methodology. This included the data sources used and the array of outcomes explored (e.g. substance use, mental health diagnoses, housing stability).

CONCLUSIONS

It is important for scholars to use common language and definitions when studying the sex trafficking of minors. Developing national databases and improving state and federal data sharing is needed to inform prevalence estimates and explore various pathways to youth experiencing CSEC.

Students' perspectives of providing sexual acts, materials, and services for financial compensation at a large, public, Midwestern university

OBJECTIVE

To understand university students' experiences with sex trading for financial compensation at a large public, Midwestern university.

PARTICIPANTS

34 university students (26.5% graduate, 70% white, 70% cisgender women, 38% heterosexual).

METHOD

We used a community-engaged, directed content analytic approach to analyze semi-structured, in-depth interviews with st udents who were familiar with sex trading.

RESULTS

Students perceive sex trading to include (1) selling personal items or fluids for another's sexual pleasure, (2) virtual sex trades, and (3) in-person sex trades. Students were motivated by financial needs and wants, work flexibility and conditions, curiosity and empowerment. Consequences were positive (e.g., supporting themselves, community) and negative (e.g., blackmail, detrimental health effects). While negative consequences had deleterious effects on students' wellbeing, the benefits were viewed as critical.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings call for harm reduction approaches that span campus services, university and federal policies. Future research should explore students' experiences in differing academic and regional contexts.

Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Services Acts Materials for Pay (SSAMP) Index: Identifying the Virtual, In-Person, and Material Sex Trades for Financial Compensation

Exchanging sex for financial compensation is thought to be underreported primarily because extant studies (1) use a single item to capture a complex, stigmatized phenomenon, and (2) do not capture the complex types or reasons why people engage in the sex trades. Few survey studies have explored the sex trades among university students. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a newly developed measure, the Sexual Services Acts and Materials for Pay (SSAMP), among university students. Surveys were administered to undergraduate (N = 544, time 1; N = 362, time 2) and graduate (N = 331, time 1; N = 187, time 2) students two weeks apart at a predominantly White, public, Midwestern university. Findings suggested that our index had (1) strong convergent validity with the single item used in prior studies, (2) identified more cases of sex trading than the single item, (3) good internal consistency reliability (4) moderate to strong test-retest reliability, and (5) strong discriminant validity. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that items loaded above .59 on a single factor. To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate a multi-item sex trades measure in the U.S. Future research should continue to advance the SSAMP and adapt this index to provide credible estimates and nuanced understanding of the sex trades across contexts.

An Exploration of Sex Trading for Compensation and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Screening Practices: Perspectives of Young People who have Experienced Sex Trading and/or Homelessness

Young people's perspectives on social and healthcare providers' assessments of sex trading for financial compensation are lacking. This is particularly important for LGBTQ+ youth who experience substantial barriers in navigating health and social services. Further, increased internet access (because of COVID-19 and other factors) has changed the landscape of the sex trades in ways that are not fully understood. Our study aimed to understand (1) how young people trade sex, and (2) provider strategies that increase youths' comfort in disclosing sex trading and related risks. This community-based participatory research study surveyed currently or formerly homeless youth (ages 16-29). We co-created a cross sectional survey that explored youths' perceptions of: (1) sex trading type, compensation, and meaning; and (2) practices to increase youths' comfort in disclosing sex trading. Participants (N = 103; Mage = 22.9 [SD = 3.5]; 34% white, 55% ciswomen/21% trans; 51% queer) reported that "sex trading" signified multiple meanings, ranging from sex work/occupation to exploitation/trafficking, and included diverse in-person and virtual forms for varied compensation types. Youth reported being more comfortable disclosing when the provider indicated they would advocate for them if they are victims of discrimination. Compared to cisgender youth, trans youth reported feeling significantly more comfortable disclosing sexual activity when a service provider used gender/sexuality inclusive practices (e.g., pronoun pins). Findings suggest important implications for gender-inclusive practice strategies to ultimately reduce potential harms of sex trading and multi-item measures to assess the complexity of sex trading.