Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Rates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are disproportionately high among homeless youth. Past research has demonstrated that CSA is associated with a range of sexual risk behaviours, poor sexual health outcomes, and problems with sexual functioning. However, the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain unclear. Based on past models which posit that CSA may influence individuals' sexual development and norms, it is expected that motivations for sex may be affected by CSA experiences. The proposed study will examine how CSA is related to changes in sexual risk behaviours, sexual health, and sexual functioning over time in homeless youth. In addition, it will examine if an individual's motivations to engage in sex will explain these relationships. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to improve the long-term health outcomes among homeless youth in Canada. By exploring the role of motivations for sex in the relationship between CSA and poor sexual health, this study may guide future behavioural interventions aimed at improving sexual health outcomes in this high-risk population.