PI, Dr. Brittany Brakenhoff, OSU Education and Human Ecology –
Interviews with 30 youth and 100 quantitative assessments were administered in order to better understand homeless youths’ perceptions of their sexual risk behaviors and the perceived benefits and consequences of sexual risk behaviors, as well as attitudes about pregnancy. Findings suggested that the high stress context of homelessness was the biggest factor in homeless youth’s decision making in terms of risky sexual behavior. The high stress context of homelessness appeared to influence youth to make impulsive sexual decisions because sex could be a quick and easy way to fulfill or distract from their unmet needs.
