Migrant workers have been shown to be at a heightened level of risk for HIV, and ethnic identity has been posited to have an impact on engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Our longitudinal study examined associations between baseline and short-term changes in ethnic identity and high-risk sexual behaviors. Baseline (n = 431) and 6-month assessment (n = 270) data were obtained from a larger HIV prevention study conducted among African American and Hispanic migrant workers. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance and multiple linear regressions were used. Ethnic identity explore, a subscale of ethnic identity, was a significant predictor of overall sexual risk [F(8, 422) = 6.953, p < .001] and unprotected vaginal acts [F(8, 422) = 8.444, p < .001] at baseline. However, ethnic identity had no bearing on changes in risky sexual behaviors. Ethnic identity explore was associated with safer sexual behaviors. © 2014 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Migrant workers Sex-related alcohol expectancy Ethnic identity HIV risk behaviors

Migrant Workers HIV Infections regression analysis sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection psychological aspect Caucasian Follow-Up Studies follow up Social Identification human middle aged statistics Time Factors ethnology African American Hispanic Americans Unsafe Sex United States Florida Humans Hispanic male female Multivariate Analysis questionnaire Article high risk behavior ethnic identity Risk-Taking Questionnaires adult migration European Continental Ancestry Group Transients and Migrants sex-related alcohol expectancy HIV risk behaviors African Americans social behavior time