Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Personal Mastery Among Sexual Minority African-American Female Sex Workers

Bibliographic Data

ID12398457
AuthorsMance E Buttram (0000-0002-5001-7391, Nova Southeastern University, corresponding author), Hilary L Surratt (0000-0003-4027-7840, Nova Southeastern University), Steven P Kurtz (0000-0002-4243-8129, Nova Southeastern University)
Year2014
Volume26
Issue4
Pages407-425
Publication date2014-10-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1053-8720 • E-ISSN: 1540-4056
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10538720.2014.956242
PMID25530691
PMCIDPMC4268145
OpenAlexW2016391203
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited77

Research among sexual minorities has traditionally examined problems such as substance use, HIV risk, mental health problems, and victimization. Among sexual minority street-based female sex workers, these vulnerabilities can be magnified. Grounded in theories of resilience, this study examines risk and protective factors associated with a high level of personal mastery among a vulnerable population of women. Data are drawn from baseline interviews from street-based African American female sex workers enrolled in a randomized intervention trial in Miami, Florida. We compare sexual minority (N=197) and heterosexual (N=365) women on measures of risk and protective factors; among sexual minority women we present logistic regression analyses which reveal that severe mental distress and HIV transmission risk are associated with low levels of personal mastery, while protective factors of transportation access and social support are associated with high levels of personal mastery. These findings suggest that these protective factors may potentially facilitate the development of personal mastery and represent beneficial avenues for intervention efforts

African american · Developmental psychology · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology