Mental health among sex workers: A cross-sectional survey

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Wulf Rössler; Professorin Dr. Meryam Schouler-Ocak
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458542508

Despite its high prevalence, there has been little scientific investigation of the health and medical care of prostitutes. Work carried out thus far is generally limited to the spread of infectious diseases, and thus aspects that also serve to protect clients. Prostitutes are a difficult to reach and heterogeneous group of people, whose composition is subject to constant change, especially due to the high prevalence of immigration. At the current time, they primarily originate from successor states of the Soviet Union, Romania, Bulgaria, and other Balkan states. Migration and prostitution are therefore two closely related issues. It is estimated that more than half of the sex workers in Germany come from other countries. There is very little information in the literature on the prevalence of mental disorders among them. No survey exists for Germany. A study by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (2004) on violence against women showed that prostitutes had experienced violence more frequently than other interviewees in childhood and youth, in relationships or at work. Just under half of the women reported depressive symptoms and a quarter had thoughts of suicide within the last year. In recent years public debate has highlighted the violence experienced by prostitutes, and thus problematized the assumption that prostitution can be a free and autonomous decision, as well as exploring the role media reporting plays in reinforcing this. The proposed project is a cross-sectional study in which the lifetime and annual prevalence of mental disorders among sex workers is to be surveyed. In particular, the mental health of the women who carry out this work is to be recorded. In addition, the risks to their mental health as a result of this activity are to be identified. In order to better reach the target group, a participatory approach will be adopted. Due to the heterogeneity of the target group, important factors with a possible influence on the prevalence of mental disorders must be investigated in order to obtain meaningful data. The different life circumstances and personal prerequisites, the working environment, the form of prostitution and underlying motives, previous experiences, and the duration of sex work must be taken into account. Since male prostitutes presumably differ significantly from female prostitutes in the above-mentioned life circumstances and personal conditions, and thus in factors influencing mental health, the planned study will be limited to female prostitutes. In addition to the scientific exploration of the data, this project can contribute to the socio-political discussion.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants