This study investigated the relationship between youth violence exposures (i.e., peer and neighborhood) and early sexual initiation. It also explored whether caring relationships with teachers might moderate this relationship and whether results differed for heterosexual versus non-heterosexual African American youth. The study sample (N = 580) comprised 475 heterosexual and 105 non-heterosexual youths, 319 female and 261 male, ages 13 to 24 years (M age = 15.8). Students were assessed for peer and neighborhood violence, relationship with teachers, early sexual initiation, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Major results indicated a positive relationship between exposure to peer and neighborhood violence and early sexual initiation for heterosexual youth but not those who identified as non-heterosexual. Further, identifying as female (vs. male) was significantly associated with later sexual initiation for both heterosexual and non-heterosexual youth. In addition, caring teachers moderated the relationship between exposure to peer violence and age of sexual initiation among non-heterosexual youth. Programs and interventions to curtail violence sequelae would need to consider the unique effects of various types of youth violence exposures and the significance of sexual orientation.

这项研究调查了青少年暴力暴露（即同伴和邻居）与早期性开始之间的关系。它还探讨了与老师的关爱关系是否会缓和这种关系，以及异性恋和非异性恋非裔美国青年的结果是否不同。研究样本（ N = 580）包括 475 名异性恋青少年和 105 名非异性恋青少年，其中 319 名女性和 261 名男性，年龄 13 至 24 岁（ M年龄 = 15.8）。对学生的同伴和邻里暴力、与教师的关系、早期性开始、性取向和社会经济地位进行评估。主要结果表明，对于异性恋青少年来说，遭受同伴和邻里暴力与早期性行为之间存在正相关关系，但对于非异性恋青少年来说则不然。此外，对于异性恋和非异性恋青少年来说，女性（相对于男性）的认同与较晚的性行为显着相关。此外，有爱心的教师调节了非异性恋青少年中遭受同伴暴力与性起始年龄之间的关系。减少暴力后遗症的计划和干预措施需要考虑各种类型的青少年暴力经历的独特影响以及性取向的重要性。