The Role of Resilience and Social Connectedness on Sexually Transmitted Infections Among US Young Adults

Purpose: To explore the role of promotive assets (individual resilience) and promotive resources (maternal connectedness, peer connectedness, and school connectedness) in adolescence in moderating the association between neighborhood poverty and chlamydia and trichomoniasis infection in young adulthood.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health In-Home Interview (Waves I-1996 and III-2001) and Contextual Data (Wave I) were used (n=7,382). Forward step-wise logistic regressions were completed to assess how resilience factors during adolescence impact the association between concentrated neighborhood poverty and STIs (chlamydia and trichomoniasis) while adjusting for adolescent-level demographics, promotive assets and resources. Cross-level interactions between the promotive assets and resources and concentrated poverty were also examined.

Results: Respondents who were exposed to high concentrated poverty in adolescence and reported more individual resilience (self-family) were less likely to report trichomoniasis infection in young adulthood. School connectedness operated differently based on STI. Youth who reported more school connectedness in adolescence and lived in areas of high concentrated poverty in adolescence were less likely to test positive for chlamydia but in contrast were more likely to test positive for trichomoniasis.

Conclusions: This study responds to the growing demand for resilience-based STI research that focus on identifying factors that work to build individual strengths and resources in the face of adversity. Investing in resilience-based research and interventions has the potential to not only improve adolescent sexual health but across multiple health outcomes.