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Author(s): Hannabeth Franchino-Olsen [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sandra L. Martin [sup.1] , Carolyn T. Halpern [sup.1] , John S. Preisser [sup.3] , Catherine Zimmer [sup.4] , Meghan Shanahan [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...], Little is known about how minor sex exchange (MSE) may impact violence victimization during adulthood. This study investigates potential associations between MSE and forms of interpersonal violence victimization in young adulthood, while controlling for additional forms of violence experienced in childhood and adolescence. Data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 11,500) were used in this analysis. Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations between adolescent victimizations and interpersonal violence in young adulthood, while controlling for demographic variables, adolescent risk behaviors, and child maltreatment. Although multivariable models found that MSE was not significantly associated with either form of interpersonal violence in young adulthood, adolescent IPV and community violence significantly increased the likelihood of IPV in young adulthood, and adolescent community violence significantly increased the likelihood of community violence in young adulthood. Adolescent risk behaviors, child maltreatment, and certain demographic characteristics were also associated with violence in young adulthood. Prevention, intervention, and screening efforts should consider how violence victimization across the life course-from childhood to young adulthood-impacts the experiences and needs of violence survivors.

We estimate past-year physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence from early to middle adulthood, examining associations with respondent gender, sexual orientation, and partner gender. We used three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. For each wave, we estimated IPV prevalence, stratified by gender, sexual orientation, and partner gender. Findings indicate that diverse-sexual males and females are more likely to experience IPV compared to heterosexuals. Further, diverse-sexual males are less likely to experience physical and sexual IPV if they have a same-gender partner. In contrast, heterosexual males are more likely to experience physical and sexual IPV if they have same-gender partners. All females were more likely to experience physical and sexual violence if they have different-gender partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this article was to examine gender-typed behavior longitudinally and to consider its relationship with sexual orientation in adulthood. Data were from 10,624 respondents who completed Wave 1 (adolescence), Wave 3 (emerging adulthood), and Wave 4 (early adulthood) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. First, we described the distributions of gender-typed behavior by adult sexual orientation at each of the three developmental stages. Next, we performed multilevel mixed regression models to assess longitudinal variation in gender-typed behavior from adolescence to adulthood within sexual orientation groups. Results showed that gender-typed behavior varied both within and between sexual orientation groups, as well as over time. For males, the differences in gender-typed behavior among the sexual orientation groups were relatively consistent at each stage, whereas differences in gender-typed behavior among sexual orientation groups varied more at each stage among females. Longitudinal models exhibited curvilinear patterns, such that gender-typed behavior strengthened from adolescence to early adulthood but peaked in emerging adulthood. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use population representative data to study gender-typed behavior both prospectively and at multiple time points from adolescence to adulthood, and to consider how such behavior is related to adult sexual orientation. This research contributes to a growing body of prospective literature on the link between gendered behavior and sexual orientation and provides further justification for more age- and cohort-specific measures of gender-typed behavior in future research.

Objectives. To (1) compare responses to 2 survey questions designed to measure sexual orientation and (2) understand how variation in responses is associated with mental health. Methods. Data were from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Socioeconomic Status, and Health Across the Life Course (SOGI-SES) study (2020–2021) in the United States. We used the adjusted Wald test to compare proportions of respondents who were (1) categorized as heterosexual or straight and sexual minorities using the sexual orientation questions designed for the Add Health study and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and (2) diagnosed with depression or anxiety or panic disorder. Results. The Add Health question detected more than twice as many sexual minority respondents as the NHIS question. Those who responded as sexual minorities to the Add Health question but as heterosexual or straight to the NHIS question, primarily "mostly heterosexuals," had mental health outcomes that were more like those who were consistently classified as sexual minorities versus those consistently classified as heterosexual or straight. Conclusions. Current measures of sexual orientation in national-level surveys may underestimate the sexual minority population and sexual orientation‒related health disparities. Public Health Implications. Results illustrate the need for further research to expand measurement of sexual orientation on population-based health surveys. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(12):1375–1383. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307839) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Christine Tucker [sup.1] , Kate Berrien [sup.2] , M. Kathryn Menard [sup.3] , Amy H. Herring [sup.4] , Diane Rowley [sup.1] , Carolyn Tucker Halpern [sup.1] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: [...], Objectives To compare receipt of contraception and method effectiveness in the early postpartum period among women with and without a recent preterm birth (PTB). Methods We used data from North Carolina birth certificates linked to Medicaid claims. We assessed contraceptive claims with dates of service within 90 days of delivery among a retrospective cohort of women who had a live birth covered by Medicaid between September 2011 and 2012 (n = 58,201). To estimate the odds of receipt of contraception by PTB status (24-36 weeks compared to 37-42 weeks [referent]), we used logistic regression and tested for interaction by parity. To estimate the relationship between PTB and method effectiveness based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Levels of Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods (most, moderate and least effective [referent]), we used multinomial logistic regression. Results Less than half of all women with a live birth covered by Medicaid in North Carolina had a contraceptive claim within 90 days postpartum. Women with a recent PTB had a lower prevalence of contraceptive receipt compared to women with a term birth (45.7% vs. 49.6%). Women who experienced a PTB had a lower odds of receiving contraception. When we stratified by parity, women with a PTB had a lower odds of contraceptive receipt among women with more than two births (0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85), but not among women with two births or fewer. One-fourth of women received a most effective method. Women with a preterm birth had a lower odds of receiving a most effective method (0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.88) compared to women with a term birth. Conclusions for Practice Contraceptive receipt was low among women with a live birth covered by Medicaid in North Carolina. To optimize contraceptive use among women at risk for subsequent preterm birth, family planning strategies that are responsive to women's priorities and context, including a history of preterm birth, are needed. Significance Access to free or affordable highly effective contraception is associated with reductions in preterm birth. Self-report data indicate that women with a very preterm birth (PTB) are less likely to use highly or moderately effective contraception postpartum compared to women delivering at later gestational ages. Using Medicaid claims data, we found that less than half of all women with a Medicaid covered delivery in North Carolina in 2011-2012 had a contraceptive claim within 90 days postpartum, and one fourth received a most effective method. Women with a PTB and more than two children were least likely to receive any method. Family planning strategies that are responsive to women's priorities and context, including a history of preterm birth, are needed so that women may access their contraceptive method of choice in the postpartum period.

Genetic differences between populations are potentially an important contributor to health disparities around the globe. As differences in gene frequencies influence study design, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the natural variation of the genetic variant(s) of interest. Along these lines, we characterized the variation of the 5HTTLPR and rs25531 polymorphisms in six samples from North America, Southeast Asia, and Africa (Cameroon) that differ in their racial and ethnic composition. Allele and genotype frequencies were determined for 24,066 participants. Results indicated higher frequencies of the rs25531 G-allele among Black and African populations as compared with White, Hispanic and Asian populations. Further, we observed a greater number of extra-long (XL) 5HTTLPR alleles than have previously been reported. Extra-long alleles occurred almost entirely among Asian, Black and Non-White Hispanic populations as compared with White and Native American populations where they were completely absent. Lastly, when considered jointly, we observed between sample differences in the genotype frequencies within racial and ethnic populations. Taken together, these data underscore the importance of characterizing the L-G allele to avoid misclassification of participants by genotype and for further studies of the impact XL alleles may have on the transcriptional efficiency of SLC6A4.

Author(s): Anna E. Austin [sup.1] [sup.2] , Nisha C. Gottfredson [sup.3] , Adam J. Zolotor [sup.4] , Carolyn T. Halpern [sup.1] , Stephen W. Marshall [sup.2] [sup.5] , Jared W. [...], Objectives Our objective was to identify preconception and prenatal predictors of early experiences of co-occurring risk and protective factors to help target prevention efforts to the highest-need families prior to the birth of the child. Methods Data were from the Alaska Longitudinal Child Abuse and Neglect Linkage project and the 2012-2014 Alaska Child Understanding Behaviors Survey. We used latent class analysis and Vermunt&apos;s three-step approach to examine predictors of latent classes of risk and protective factors among Alaska children. Results Among children of Alaska Native/American Indian mothers, financial (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04, 3.90) and partner stress (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.02, 4.10) prior to childbirth, maternal education < 12 years (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.05, 4.96), and maternal substance use (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.30, 4.89) were associated with a higher likelihood of membership in a high risk/moderate protection class as compared to a low socioeconomic status/high protection class. Among children of non-Native mothers, partner stress prior to childbirth (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.08, 14.19), maternal education < 12 years (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.24, 5.81), maternal substance use (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.24, 5.81), younger maternal age (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80, 0.95), and a greater number of children (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.09, 2.41) were associated with a higher likelihood of membership in a moderate risk/high protection class as compared to a low risk/moderate protection class. Conclusions Results can inform eligibility criteria for prenatal home visiting programs and prenatal screening in Alaska to ensure prevention programming and referrals are directed to families most in need of additional support.