Consequences of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the U.S

Background: Street-based prostitution has been linked to a number of physical, mental, and behavioral health consequences in samples of adult women, including violence, HIV/AIDS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Children engaged in the commercial sex industry are also likely to remain in the commercial sex industry in adulthood without intervention. However, scant research exists on the post-trafficking experiences or consequences of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) among youth, which is needed to inform interventions with domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) victims. This study addresses two research questions: 1) what are the consequences of DMST? and 2) what differences, if any, exist in consequences between DMST victims and those who enter the commercial sex industry as adults?

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered using respondent-driven sampling methods to recruit individuals age 16 and older currently involved in the commercial sex industry in five cities in one Midwestern state (N = 273). Post-trafficking experiences were retrospectively measured through single dichotomous indicators (yes/no) asking respondents to report whether the following occurred within one year after entering the commercial sex industry and/or more than one year after entering the commercial sex industry: runaway behaviors, rape, homelessness, worried about eating/where to sleep, frequent alcohol and drug use, mental health diagnosis (PTSD, depression, anxiety), dropped out of school, involved in a gang, and spent time in juvenile detention. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine group differences between current and former DMST victims and adults engaged in the commercial sex industry.

Results: A total of 115 (48.3%) participants were identified as current/former DMST victims (i.e. entered the commercial sex industry under the age of 18). Among DMST victims, a total of 10.5% reported running away, 12.5% reported rape, 11.6% reported homelessness, 10.7% were worried about where they were going to eat or sleep, 10.8% reported frequent alcohol use and drug use, 9.6% reported a mental health diagnosis, 5.3% dropped out of school, 1.7% reported being involved in a gang, and 5.3% participants spent time in juvenile detention after entering the commercial sex industry. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analyses revealed no significant differences in consequences between current/former DMST victims and individuals who entered the commercial sex industry over 18.

Conclusion: DMST can have a variety of consequences for youth, particularly continued CSE into adulthood. Runaway behaviors, homelessness, being worried about where to eat or sleep, and frequent drug and alcohol use after entering the sex industry were moderately prevalent among DMST victims in the sample. The lack of significant differences between current/former DMST victims and those who entered the commercial sex industry as adults may be the same, regardless of age of entry. Treatment and interventions for DMST should address the individualized needs and experiences of youth.