Depression Linked to Risky Sex Behavior in African-American Youth

A new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and Brown Medical School reveals that African American adolescents with symptoms of depression are more than four times likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.

The study asked four hundred African American teens and young adults who had reported engaging in unprotected sex in the past ninety days to rate various symptoms of psychological distress. At a six-month follow-up, the odds that respondents who reported depressive symptoms would report inconsistent condom use were about four times greater than for those without symptoms of depression.

These findings suggest that psychological symptoms can serve as an indicator of sexual risk and that screening for depression should be integrated into HIV assessment and intervention programs. Says lead author Larry K. Brown, MD:

"This means that clinicians should assess symptoms of depression in African American patients as an indicator of future sexual risk, and HIV intervention programs should be designed as to address depression, especially in this population."

Read more: Depression, risky sex behavior linked in African-American youth