Unfortunately this session in the series has been cancelled.
Dr. JaNelle Ricks, Ohio State University, Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Title: Adolescent dating violence experiences among by sexual minority youth
Abstract: Sexually-diverse adolescents (those who are not exclusively heterosexual) experience physical, sexual and psychological dating violence at significantly higher rates than heterosexual peers. The term adolescent dating violence may be experienced in person or digitally, a phenomenon known as digital dating abuse. Both forms of dating violence are pervasivea among adolescents. Furthermore, dating violence occurs more commonly among adolescents with racially minoritized identities.
Adolescent dating violence has a detrimental impact on sexual behaviors including multiple sexual partners, less condom use, and increased frequency of sex. Adolescents exposed to dating violence are more likely to acquire sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV. Adolescent dating violence is more commonly reported by sexual minority youth and this group also experiences higher rates of STIs and HIV than their heterosexual peers. But the relationship between adolescent dating violence and the sexual and reproductive health of sexual minority youth is poorly described. We argue that this gap stunts our ability to intervene to improve the disproportionately severe health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
