Running away from home is a dramatic response of many adolescents to a history of sexual abuse. Although there is increasing evidence that both males and females experience Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) (Chandy, Blum, & Resnick, 1996; Feiring, Taska, & Lewis, 1999; Chen, Tyler, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2004;), running away has been identified more often among females than males (Feiring et al., 1999). Moreover, most of what is known about the prevalence and consequences of CSA comes from studies of female children victimized by men (Reane, 1992). While there is increasing awareness of both short- and long-term consequences of CSA, little is known about how to prevent either the occurrence or the serious sequelae of this phenomenon. Unless adolescents are able to access resources to help them cope with experiences of CSA, the cycle of sexual abuse is likely to continue on the streets (Tyler, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2004). The authors assumed that males and females experience CSA differently in terms of cognitions, perceptions, and subsequent behaviors. The goal of this study was to explore how gender and history of sexual abuse influence cognitive-perceptual and behavioral factors associated with sexual health practices of homeless adolescents.
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