Womens Barriers To Safer Sex
adolescents; aids risk; Environmental & Occupational Health; hiv infection; intervention; Psychology; Public; risk reduction; social support; stress
We examined women's barriers to safer sex and the development of a 14-item, multi-dimensional, barriers to safer sex scale. In Study 1, model testing and scale development was conducted on a population of 503 African and European American, inner-city, pregnant, single women. We found four factors that closely parallel theoretical barriers that are cited in the literature: a) partner and self objections, b) the appraisal that one is not at risk, c) embarrassment, and d) giving up pleasure. In Study 2, convergent and divergent validity data supported the construct validity of the theoretical model and scale. In Study 3, the four subscales were found to be reliable among an additional sample of 72 single, college women. Subscale means for the community and student samples differed significantly, indicating important population differences. More modest differences were found between African American and European American women.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Britton P J; Shepherd J B
Psychology & Health
1994
1994
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1080/08870449408407483" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1080/08870449408407483</a>
Safer Sex Knowledge, Behavior, And Attitudes Of Inner-city Women
african american; aids; aids risk; black; hiv; inner city; Psychology; risk reduction; safer sex; united-states; women
Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, perceived risk of AIDS, and safer sex behavior were studied in a sample of 289 single, pregnant. inner-city women. African-American and European-American women were equally represented. Women had poor AIDS knowledge. Sexual behavior placed women at risk for HIV infection due to the lack of condom or spermicide use. Women did not perceive themselves at risk for the AIDS virus, although they did recognize that heterosexuals were at risk. Their lack of risk perception was partly based on their having a single sexual partner. They did not regard their partner's current or past behavior as placing them at risk. Recommendations for intervention and cultural differences were discussed.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Britton P J; Shepherd J B
Health Psychology
1993
1993-11
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.12.6.481" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1037/0278-6133.12.6.481</a>
Proximal and distal predictors of AIDS risk behaviors among inner-city African American and European American women
AIDS risk; attitudes; condom use; ethnic differences; health behavior; intervention; knowledge; model; perceptions; Psychology; safer sex; self-efficacy; social norms; stress
AIDS risk behavior and attitudes towards safer sex were studied in a sample of 666 African American and 626 European American women. Condom use, AIDS-related knowledge, risk perception, self-efficacy beliefs, attitudes and perceived partner attitudes, and an assertive coping style were analyzed with regard to mean differences and predictive power in both ethnic groups. Compared to European American women, African American women had less knowledge and lower self-efficacy beliefs towards safer sex behavior, but they perceived themselves to be at more risk and reported greater condom use. Further, ethnicity was found to moderate the effects of the psychological predictors on safer sex behavior. This moderator effect was tested using a structural equation modeling design. In both groups, risk perception was the strongest predictor of condom use. Among African American women, social-cognitive barriers (e.g. low self-efficacy beliefs, negative attitude towards condom use) worked as a second predictor and mediator of the effects of risk perception on condom use. In contrast, among European American women, social-cognitive factors had no effect on condom use. In general, prediction of safer sex behavior was stronger among African American women.
Schroder K E E; Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J
Journal of Health Psychology
2001
2001-03
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/135910530100600207" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/135910530100600207</a>