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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 victimization in emerging adulthood among vulnerable young women. We operationalize adolescent homelessness as youth living “doubled-up” without paying rent or experiencing literal homelessness. Both adolescent homelessness and parental incarceration are critical experiences that may disrupt typical developmental trajectories. 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, mental health history, intimate partner relationships, substance use history, and material hardship. We hypothesize significant associations between both parental incarceration and homelessness in adolescence with 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.