AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 30, Issue 3, 2018, Pages 353-360

Sexual risk during initial months in US among Latina young adults (Article)

Ertl M.M. , Dillon F.R.* , Cabrera Tineo Y.A. , Verile M. , Jurkowski J.M. , De La Rosa M.
  • a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University at Albany–State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
  • b Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University at Albany–State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Tempe, AZ, United States
  • c Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University at Albany–State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
  • d Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University at Albany–State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
  • e Department of Health Policy, Management & Behavior, School of Public Health, University at Albany–State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
  • f The Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

Latina young adults are disproportionately at risk for sexually transmitted infections (e.g., HIV). However, little is known about social and cultural factors contributing to sexual health disparities among young adult Latina recent immigrants. The present study examined social and cultural factors contributing to sexual risk behaviors among 530 Latina women (ages 18–23) who immigrated to Miami-Dade County, Florida, approximately 12 months before assessment. At the cultural/macrosystemic level, participants who reported more sexual risk behaviors tended to (a) be less acculturated; (b) use less positive religious coping; (c) endorse to a greater extent the marianismo belief that Latinas should be the pillar of the family; and (d) endorse less of the marianismo belief that Latinas should be virtuous and chaste (i.e., abstain from premarital sex). As for individual-level factors, participants who reported more sexual risk behaviors also indicated (e) older age, (f) being married/partnered, (g) being employed, (h) living in the US longer, and (i) drinking more alcohol. Findings indicate areas for HIV/STI prevention for this underserved population. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

social and cultural determinants Recent Latina immigrants sexual risk behaviors

Index Keywords

unemployment immigrant HIV Infections Alcohol Drinking sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection drinking behavior alcohol consumption human sexuality Sexual Partners health belief Stress, Psychological social aspect mental stress coping behavior social network priority journal controlled study alcohol unprotected sex ethnology Hispanic Americans sexually transmitted disease condom use Sexually Transmitted Diseases Florida Young Adult Humans psychology Hispanic Adolescent Acculturation female risk factor cultural factor Article high risk behavior Risk-Taking major clinical study adult migration Emigration and Immigration premarital sex
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028532984&doi=10.1080%2f09540121.2017.1368442&partnerID=40&md5=0df34e993f32d6a3886bb44a8e152c29
DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1368442
ISSN: 09540121
Original Language: English