Sexual revictimization of college women is a relatively new area of study within the field of victimology. Although the link between childhood sexual assault (CSA) and adult revictimization has been examined, many aspects of why college-aged females are revictimized have gained little attention. This Master’s thesis will explore the current literature as well as analyze the possible link between risky behaviors, individual characteristics, and sexual revictimization. Using Jacquelyn W. White and Paige Hall Smith’s (2004) data, A Longitudinal Perspective on Physical and Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Against Women, bivariate analyses were conducted regarding the revictimization of college women. The findings suggest a few differences between single victims and revictims. The findings also suggested that nonvictims and revictims were found to have multiple differences across variables. Suggestions for future research will be discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the roles that values and the family environment play in young adult engagement in risky behavior. One hundred seventy-two male and female college students between the ages of 18-25 completed a demographics questionnaire, the Aspirations Index which measures seven life-goal contents that represent different values, the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events that assesses young adults’ perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with involvement in risky activities as well as past involvement in risky behaviors and the Family Environment Scale to assess participants' perceptions of their current family environment. A series of regression analyses were then used to assess the relationship between three dimensions of the family environment and risky behavior involvement and the relationship between participants' intrinsic and extrinsic values and perceived positive consequences and negative consequences of risky behavior. Results from this study supported the idea that certain dimensions of the family environment are related to risk-taking behavior in emerging adults; however, contrary to previous research, the relationship dimension of the family environment was not predictive of young adult risk-taking. Moreover, family activities that communicate family values did not contribute any additional information to the prediction of risk-taking behavior. Findings from this study suggest that emerging adult values are related to emerging adult perceptions of the hazards and benefits of risky behavior. Results from this study also highlighted the importance of gender and first-generation college status in predicting risk-taking frequency as well as perceived benefits and hazards of risk-taking. Implications for findings of the current study, limitations, and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

The study explored relationships among discrimination experiences, mental health (i.e., anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms), risky behaviors (i.e., suicidal ideation, illicit substance use), religiosity, and social support in LGBT adults residing in Latin America. First, multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify patterns of connections among discrimination, mental health, suicidal ideation, and illicit substance use in sexual and gender minority adults from Latin American. Harassment/Rejection discrimination, but neither Work/School nor Other discrimination predicted suicidal ideation. None of the three discrimination subscales predicted illicit substance use. Work/School discrimination predicted mental health problems (Anxiety and Depression subscales of HSCL-25 combined), while Harassment/Rejection and Other discrimination did not. Depression predicted suicidal ideation, but failed to predict illicit substance use, and anxiety symptoms alone neither uniquely predicted suicidal ideation nor illicit substance use. Subsequently, separate mediational models were conducted to examine whether depression mediated relationships between Work/School discrimination and suicidal ideation, as well as Harassment/Rejection discrimination and suicidal ideation. Depression was a significant mediator of both of these relationships. To assess whether the relationships among discrimination, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation varied as a function of religiosity and social support, the two mediation models were expanded to six moderated mediations. Depression symptoms mediated the effects of Work/School and Harassment/Rejection discrimination on suicidal ideation when participants had low to moderate levels of social support, but not high social support. Depression symptoms also mediated the effects of Work/School discrimination on suicidal ideation when participants had low to moderate levels of both Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Religiosity, but not when participants had high levels. Finally, Depression symptoms mediated the effect of Harassment/Rejection discrimination on suicidal ideation when participants had low to moderate levels of Intrapersonal Religiosity, but not when participants had high levels; depression symptoms mediated the effect of Harassment/Rejection discrimination on suicidal ideation at all levels of Interpersonal Religiosity. Limitations to the current study included a homogenous sample with respect to country of residence, education level, and socioeconomic status, with participants primarily residing in Mexico, having high levels of education, and being primarily middle class. These drawbacks limit generalizability of study findings to sociodemographically and demographically diverse samples of LGBT adults in Latin America. Nevertheless, results from this study indicate that high, but not low or moderate levels of social support and religiosity seem to buffer LGBT adults in Latin America against discrimination, specifically by weakening links among discrimination, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Clinical intervention research with LGBT adults in Latin America should focus on increasing social support networks for this population and on helping LGBT adults reconcile conflicts between religious identities and sexual or gender minority identities, as religiosity may serve as a protective factor against mental health problems generally, and suicidal ideation specifically.

Background: HIV/AIDS is one of the world’s most serious health challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, with 69% of the people living with HIV in the world. Côte d'Ivoire has a high HIV prevalence rate and Senegal a low prevalence rate. The main research question is whether or not the HIV risk behavior of Ivorian differs from the HIV risk behavior of Senegalese in terms of selected categorical and continuous variables. In other words, if using condoms at last sexual intercourse differs between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Measure Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) involving 9,686 Ivorian and 18,363 Senegalese from 2005 were used. The Pearson Chi-square test were performed to determine any significant relationship between the variables across the two countries with respect to socio-demographic and HIV risky behaviors status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the significance of any association between the independent and the dependent variables (Condoms used at last sexual intercourse). Throughout all the analysis performed, a p-value of 0.05 and confidence interval of 95% were used to determine any statistical significance. Results: Logistic regression models showed that Côte d’Ivoire respondents had decrease odds of using condoms during their last sexual intercourse (OR=0.7; 95% CI 0.62 - 0.79) as compared to Senegal and the difference was statistically significant at p < 0.05. In Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, wealth and education have been consistently found to be positively associated with condoms used at last sexual intercourse. Conclusion: HIV risk behaviors seem to be associated with condoms used and marital status. The results in our study suggest a possible relation with condoms used, HIV prevalence and polygamy in Senegal, so men use condoms less frequently with marital partners. More studies need to assess the role of polygamy in the transmission and/or acquisition of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key words: HIV/AIDS, Risky behaviors, Condoms used, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal

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Master of Public Health / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Douglas Powell / Outbreaks of human illness have been linked to visiting settings with animal contact throughout developed countries. These outbreaks demonstrate that although contact with animals in public settings can provide educational and entertainment opportunities, the potential to spread disease exists if risk-reduction tools are not implemented, proper hygiene measures aren’t practiced, and precautions are not taken and reinforced. This thesis is divided into two parts. Part one is an observational study of hand hygiene tool availability and recommendations; frequency of risky behavior; and, handwashing attempts by visitors in Kansas and Missouri, U.S., petting zoos. Part two delineates best practices for organizing events where human-animal interactions are encouraged, in hopes it will lower the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Handwashing signs and hand hygiene stations were available at the exit of animal-contact areas in 10/13 and 8/13 petting zoos respectively. Risky behaviors were observed being performed at all petting zoos by at least one visitor. Frequently observed behaviors were: children (10/13 petting zoos) and adults (9/13 petting zoos) touching hands to face within animal-contact areas; animals licking children’s and adults’ hands (7/13 and 4/13 petting zoos, respectively); and children and adults drinking within animal-contact areas (5/13 petting zoos each). Of 574 visitors observed for hand hygiene when exiting animal-contact areas, 37% (n=214) of individuals attempted some type of hand hygiene, with male adults, female adults, and children attempting at similar rates (32%, 40%, and 37% respectively). Visitors performed hand hygiene more often when a staff member was present within or at the exit to the animal-contact area (136/231, 59%) than when no staff member was present (78/343, 23%; P < 0.001, OR = 4.863, 95% CI = 3.380–6.998), and in petting zoos where animal contact occurred over a fence (188/460, 40.9%) as opposed to visitors entering an animals’ yard for contact (26/114, 22.8%; P < 0.001, OR = 2.339, 95% CI = 1.454–3.763). Inconsistencies existed in tool availability, signage, and supervision of animal- contact. Risk communication was poor, with few petting zoos outlining risks associated with animal-contact, or providing recommendations for precautions to be taken to reduce these risks. Recommendations made in the second part of this thesis were based on these observations, recent publications, and the suggestions of many health agencies. It focuses on what event planners can do to design and plan a safer event, and what staff working at the event should be aware of in order to inform visitors and lower the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Part two discusses two primary tools to reduce risk of zoonotic disease transmission: sanitation and awareness of risk behaviors. Keeping facilities, animals, and visitors clean, and informing visitors of risky behaviors to avoid, while reinforcing positive messages within the animal- contact area, can lower the risk of zoonotic infection. Included with the second part, is a checklist (see appendix A) designed for visitors to assess whether an event that encourages human-animal interaction poses a high or low risk. By identifying possible risk factors, teachers and parents will be able to make an informed decision about the safety of the human-animal encounter.

In 2005, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth 10-24 years of age in the U.S. —accounting for 4,482 deaths. Youth suicide is an important public health problem in the U.S. and research focusing specifically on gender differences is needed and warranted since recent research shows that rates of suicide attempts have increased specifically among young girls. Analyses of the recently released 2007 YRBS data (n=14,041; girls=7,036; boys=6,992) of high school students in 9-12th grades, show that 6.9% of adolescents attempted suicide (9.3% of girls versus 4.6% of boys) and 14.5% seriously considered a suicide attempt (18.7% of girls versus 10.3% of boys). Girls are 2.89 (95% CI: 2.31-3.61) times more likely than boys to report attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Moreover, girls who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report other risk factors such as depression (OR= 5.74), weapon carrying (OR= 1.48), experiencing intimate partner violence (OR=1.60), being forced to have sexual intercourse (1.72), huffing glue (OR=2.04), and being a minority (OR 1.65). However, boys who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report weapon carrying (OR=1.66), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR=2.60), huffing glue (OR=1.63), participating in sports (OR=1.52), depression (OR=10.96), hard drug use (OR=2.18), and being a minority (OR=1.93). Furthermore, analyses of 1991 – 2007 YRBS data revealed that these gender specific risks have remained fairly constant over time. These findings will help guide prevention and intervention strategies to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviors among both girls and boys.

In 2005, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth 10-24 years of age in the U.S. —accounting for 4,482 deaths. Youth suicide is an important public health problem in the U.S. and research focusing specifically on gender differences is needed and warranted since recent research shows that rates of suicide attempts have increased specifically among young girls. Analyses of the recently released 2007 YRBS data (n=14,041; girls=7,036; boys=6,992) of high school students in 9-12th grades, show that 6.9% of adolescents attempted suicide (9.3% of girls versus 4.6% of boys) and 14.5% seriously considered a suicide attempt (18.7% of girls versus 10.3% of boys). Girls are 2.89 (95% CI: 2.31-3.61) times more likely than boys to report attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Moreover, girls who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report other risk factors such as depression (OR= 5.74), weapon carrying (OR= 1.48), experiencing intimate partner violence (OR=1.60), being forced to have sexual intercourse (1.72), huffing glue (OR=2.04), and being a minority (OR 1.65). However, boys who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report weapon carrying (OR=1.66), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR=2.60), huffing glue (OR=1.63), participating in sports (OR=1.52), depression (OR=10.96), hard drug use (OR=2.18), and being a minority (OR=1.93). Furthermore, analyses of 1991 – 2007 YRBS data revealed that these gender specific risks have remained fairly constant over time. These findings will help guide prevention and intervention strategies to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviors among both girls and boys.

Risky behaviors are behaviors which lead to insufficient decision, such as unprotected sexual behavior and drug use. Environmental factors around college students who are mostly late adolescent and young emerging adults could lead them to risky behaviors. Those factors can include movies they watch, radio stations they listen to, social media, and their peers who introduce social norms among peers. College students’ risky behaviors can be affected by those social norms of peers, often through peer pressure. In the current study, the dynamics among peer pressure, social media, and risky behaviors among college students will be studied by interviewing undergraduate students at one of main universities in southern region in the U.S.