Adolescents' motives for selling sex - A Swedish national study

Background: Selling sex among adolescents has been associated to sexual, physical and emotional abuse, poor mental health, sexual risk-taking and abuse of alcohol or drugs. Few associations has been found to sociodemographic... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Selling sex among adolescents has been associated to sexual, physical and emotional abuse, poor mental health, sexual risk-taking and abuse of alcohol or drugs. Few associations has been found to sociodemographic factors leading to the question, what is the motives for adolescent selling sex? Interview studies indicate that adolescents selling sex are a heterogeneous group in concern of the motives for selling sex ranging from pure curiosity, physical force, “easy way” to receive gifts, shelter or money, drug abuse to using the selling of sex as a way to regulate feelings like anxiety compared to direct self-injury.

Objective: To investigate motives for selling sex in a population based study and to identify groups of adolescents in relation to their motives for selling sex.

Method: Included in the study was 5,839 adolescents from the 3^rd year of Swedish high School, mean age 18.0 years. Response rate 59.7%. In total 51 (0.9%) stated to have sold sexual services for reimbursement. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used in the study.

Results: Three groups of adolescents were identified according to their motives for selling sex 1) Adolescents reporting Emotional Demand with the motives Wanted to be close to someone, Wanted appreciation, Poor mental health/ reduce anxiety and the buyer persuaded 2) adolescents reporting Material Demand (including need of money or drugs) but no emotional demands 3) adolescents reporting no motives for selling sex or Enhancement only (including motives Fun/Exciting, Like to have sex, Influenced by peers/partner, Affected by alcohol or drugs).

Conclusions: Groups of adolescents can be identified according to their motives for selling sex and these groups are found to differ in kind of reimbursement, age of the buyer, sexual orientation but not in trauma symptoms.