Research on the psychological impact associated with sex work, especially when exposed to violent situations, has shown that this activity is linked to the development of psychological stress and many other negative consequences in the short, medium, and long term. These consequences include depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual trauma symptoms, and addiction disorders related to substance use.[7]
The study by El-Bassel et al. (1997) showed that sex workers, compared to a control sample, had higher scores on the subscales of obsessive–compulsive symptomatology, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. To assess whether there was a direct relationship, the authors isolated other variables that could contribute to these higher values (differences in age, ethnicity, pregnancy, perceived risk of contracting HIV, rape, and substance use) and found a significant correlation between sex work and psychological stress.[7]
In recent decades, the perception of mental health has changed significantly, especially among young people, who openly discuss depression, anxiety, and therapy. Mental health has become a recurring topic in popular culture, frequently featured in TV shows, movies, and songs, and has been the focus of numerous recently proposed and passed laws.[5] This change is crucial to addressing the mental health of high-risk groups, such as people who sell sex. These individuals, often forced into this activity by survival, coercion, or deception, usually lack support networks and face economic precariousness, prior violence, and social marginalization, with a particular risk for LGBTQ+ and Black girls. Most who have sold sex started as minors, wanted to leave the sex trade, and suffered significant harm, as recounted by Esperanza Fonseca, a survivor who describes feelings of loneliness and deep sadness.[5]
Prostitution can have profound and lasting psychological effects on those who engage in it. These effects can manifest in various disorders and symptoms that impact mental health and emotional well-being. Below is a detailed table exploring different psychological disorders associated with prostitution, describing their symptoms, reasons for occurrence, possible consequences, available treatments, severity, and prevalence among affected women.