Sensation seeking and risk-taking propensity as mediators in the relationship between childhood abuse and HIV-related risk behavior

Abstract

Objectives: Although a wealth of literature suggests that childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are related to later-life HIV-related risk behaviors, few studies have explored disinhibition (e.g., impulsivity, risk-taking propensity, and sensation-seeking) as a risk factor in this relationship.

Method: This cross-sectional study examined impulsivity, risk-taking propensity, and sensation seeking as mediators in the relationship between abuse history and engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors among a sample of 96 inner-city African American adolescents.

Results: Findings indicated that abuse history was positively related to self-reported engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors (B=.027, SE .008, beta=.32, sr(2)=.105, p=.001), as well as risk-taking propensity (B=.35, SE .11, beta=.30, sr(2)=.090, p=.003) and sensation seeking (B=.17, SE .05, beta=.35, sr(2)=.124, p=.0004). Abuse history was not related to impulsivity. Further, while sensation-seeking and risk-taking propensity (to a lesser extent) mediated this relationship, impulsivity did not.

Conclusions: These findings provide an initial step in the examination of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between childhood abuse and engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors.

Figure 1

Model depicting the mediated and direct effects of childhood abuse on HIV-related risk behaviors. Standardized regression coefficients are presented. The effect of abuse on HIV-related risk behaviors when the mediators are not included in the model is shown in parentheses. † p < .10; * p < .05; ** p < .01.