Longitudinal Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sara Vasilenko (SWK) PI and Xiafei Wang (SWK) co-I, 2022 Falk Tenure-track Assistant Professor Research Seed Grants. 7/1/22-6/30/23

Adverse childhood experiences (ACES) are associated with early onset of sexual intercourse, having more sexual partners, and contracting HIV, making them an important public health concern. Using 15 years of data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, this project will first look at the longitudinal trajectories of ACES from ages 3 to 15 and how these profiles differ by race and ethnicity. Next, it will examine how these ACES profiles are associated with adolescent sexual behavior and identify protective factors that can lessen the impacts of ACES on sexual behavior. This project will inform future intervention design to target individuals at greater risk for adverse sexual health outcomes and support factors that promote resilience.