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Traumatized Youth Take Unhealthy Risks
By Jerry Kerr
HIV/STD Prevention Coordinator, Toledo-Lucas County Health
Department
Guest Column
If someone told you that bullied young people are more
likely to get a sexually transmitted disease, you would
probably think they were kidding. Recent studies prove that
young people who are emotionally or physically abused are
much more likely to take risks that cause many health
problems, including sexually transmitted diseases.
The “Rise Sister Rise (RSR)” study of 400 African-American
girls in Ohio showed that girls who experience mental and
emotional abuse are much more likely to have risky sex that
may lead to sexually transmitted diseases, or unwanted
pregnancy. The study also showed that most black girls
experience the kind of trauma that leads to risk-taking
behaviors: “…most Black girls live with some kind of trauma
every day: divorced parents, single parents, missing-
in-action fathers, death and loss, unreported molestation,
witness to domestic and street violence, mental and
emotional abuse, “living while Black”, alcoholism, drugs,
gangs, guns…this unresolved and prolonged trauma produces
the negative and aggressive behavior manifested in Black
girls today.” (RSR study)
It works something like this: when young people are
physically, or emotional traumatized, they often feel
worthless and unloved, and begin to think their health isn’t
worth protecting. Such risk-taking can include: not trying
in school, breaking the law or having unprotected sex with
multiple partners. On the other hand, young people who have
a lot of support from parents, family and friends, will feel
valued and accepted and will be strong enough to fight off
the effects of childhood trauma. They develop “an inner
power.” (RSR study)
All of this is also true for young, African-American men who
are gay, bisexual, or transgender, and they have the
highest rates for HIV infection and suicide in the nation.
These young men may hear very few positive messages that
affirm who they are, and this almost guarantees they will be
less interested in protecting their health. An article about
HIV prevention, published by the Fenway Institute, says that
gay youth who feel beaten-up by the world, may become
careless with their health:
“HIV is just one of many health disparities affecting gay
youth. Many correlate with experiences of being bullied or
socially isolated. LGBT youth are at greater risk than their
heterosexual peers for violence and victimization,
self-harm, substance abuse, sexually risky behavior and
school absences because they feel unsafe.”
This is especially true for African-American gay men who
have the triple challenge of being black, poor and gay, in a
world where some people discriminate against all of those
things.
The good news is…we know that young people are better able
to avoid unhealthy behaviors when they have plenty of
support and positive role models. Research makes it clear
that we can help them make healthy choices by making sure
they know they are valued. Here is a short list of just some
of the things you can do to give children the inner strength
they need to stay healthy:
• Support anti-bullying programs in schools.
• Set limits for your children. Clear, fair boundaries make
them feel safer.
• Accept and affirm LGBT sexuality. Gay people are a
minority population in search of justice.
• Take time to build communication with your child. Help
them find their gifts and talents.
Give the gifts of respect and justice to our young people,
and we can have a profound effect on their lives and our
community.
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Rise Sister Rise Study: http://maccinc.org/documents/ThursdayAfternoonB.pdf,
page 5.
Rise Sister Rise Study: http://maccinc.org/documents/ThursdayAfternoonB.pdf,
page 5.
FenwayHealth.org, Jan 3, 2013
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