1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The primary objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with whether or not young people of both genders are involved in buying and selling sex.» (p. 1148)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Other research questions were also pursued: (1) What is the overall attitude of young people towards prostitution? (2) How many young people of both genders report being involved in buying or selling sex? (3) What is the context in which these sexual exchanges occur (e.g., frequency, age, description of the first contact)?» (p. 1148)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«[T]he final sample consisted of 815 young people [of Québec City] (465 girls and 349 boys, one young person neglected to mention his or her gender) aged 15 to 18years old (M=15.86, SD=.74).» (p. 1148)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

According to the authors, «[t]his study also identified certain factors associated with the selling and buying of sexual services. Even if contextual risk factors were included, few of the more distal factors were explored, such as factors related to family environment (e.g., parental supervision, dysfunctional family), the school environment, or the broader social environment. We could also study some [other] factors […], such as skills (e.g., refusing), personal standards, norms and emotions, or environmental constraints (e.g., time at homealone). Including these various factors would make it possible to sketch an overall portrait of the problem and its influences. A study of adolescents’ motivations and use of coercion in those relationships would also be useful. Indicated prevention programs could target youth who have been victims of sexual abuse, young people with positive attitudes towards prostitution, those reporting a high number of stressful life events, those who are having casual sex, and observers of SESA. On the other hand, it does not seem essential to offer universal prevention programs on prostitution. Although the exchange of sexual services for compensation was not very frequent in the sample used, it nonetheless appears important to pursue universal sex education and the promotion of healthy sexual behavior free of coercion and respectful of both partners’ desire and consent. In closing, let us remember that, when dealing with adolescent buyers or sellers of sexual services, the reasoning behind our interventions must be founded on the idea of care and protection of vulnerable youth and the pursuit of sexual health.» (p. 1158)