How do psychological effects of commercial sexual exploitation impact physical health outcomes?

Mental Health as a Mediator

The analysis found that mental health (anxiety, depression, dissociation) significantly mediates the relationship between reporting CSE on the survey and physical health outcomes. Poor mental health was associated with worse physical health across survey respondents.

Indirect Negative Effect of CSE

The indirect effect of experiencing commercial exploitation on health outcomes (physical activity level, quality of sleep, etc.), mediated through mental health, was negative. This means the relationship between experiencing CSE and health outcomes is partially explained by having worse mental health.

Overall Effect of CSE

The total effect of CSE on physical health outcomes reveals a complex dynamic. The mental health challenges associated with victimization lead to a decrease in the likelihood of better health outcomes, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health in intervention strategies.

Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)

This study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the relationship between sex trafficking victimization, mental health, and physical health quality. The model evaluated both direct and indirect effects, focusing on psychological distress as a mediator. Key findings include:

• Mental Health as a Key Factor: A decrease in mental health significantly lowers the odds of positive health outcomes.
• Direct Impact of Victimization: Sex trafficking victimization directly reduces health outcome odds, though the effect size is modest.
• Demographic Differences: Black respondents had significantly worse health outcomes, while LGB individuals had notably better health outcomes. No regional differences were found.
• Indirect Effects via Mental Health: Victimization indirectly affects health through its negative impact on mental health, reducing the likelihood of positive health outcomes.
• Total Effect: Both direct and indirect pathways result in a significant overall negative impact of victimization on physical health.

These findings, as illustrated, highlight the critical role of mental health in mediating the relationship between victimization and physical well-being, emphasizing the need for integrated mental health support in survivor care.