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Primary Submission Category: Life-course/developmental

The Impact of Early Adversities on Sexual Assault Risk in Emerging Adulthood Amongst Young Women: A Longitudinal Analysis Using the Future of Families Survey

Authors:  Diana Augustin,

Presenting Author: Diana Augustin*

This study examines the impact of early life adversities—specifically parental incarceration and homelessness during adolescence—on the risk of experiencing sexual assault in emerging adulthood among young women in romantic relationships. Adolescent homelessness, which we are defining as youth living “doubled-up” without paying rent or experiencing literal homelessness, and parental incarceration are critical experiences that may disrupt typical developmental trajectories. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these adversities due to their heightened sensitivity to social and economic precarity, the potential for school disruptions, and involvement in risky behaviors. These challenges are compounded by the fact that adolescence is a time of heightened vulnerability to sexual assault. The research question guiding this study is: How do experiences of parental incarceration, homelessness, and related adversities in adolescence separately and jointly influence the risk of sexual assault in emerging adulthood? The study is grounded in the Life Course Perspective, which posits that early adversities can disrupt developmental pathways and increase vulnerability to future harm, including sexual victimization. Using Waves 6 and 7 of the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study data, this longitudinal analysis tracks participants from adolescence into emerging adulthood, focusing on young women’s experiences of sexual assault. The primary independent variables are parental incarceration and homelessness during adolescence, with sexual assault in emerging adulthood as the dependent variable. Control variables include family poverty, race/ethnicity, mental health history, peer relationships, and material hardship. We hypothesize that individuals who experienced parental incarceration or homelessness during adolescence will report higher risks of sexual assault in emerging adulthood. Moreover, we expect that the cumulative effect of these adversities will be exacerbated by current socioeconomic disadvantage and material hardship, further increasing vulnerability. Multivariate regression analyses will be used to assess the relationships between these early adversities and sexual assault risk, while controlling for potential confounding variables. We anticipate significant associations between both parental incarceration and homelessness in adolescence and increased risk of sexual assault in adulthood. Additionally, we expect that socioeconomic status and material hardship will moderate these relationships. The findings will contribute to understanding the pathways through which early adversities affect later outcomes, especially sexual violence, and will have implications for policy and practice. Interventions for at-risk youth, particularly those experiencing parental incarceration and homelessness, will be crucial in mitigating the long-term risks of sexual victimization.