Neighborhood context, psychological outlook, and risk behaviors among urban African American youth.

OBJECTIVES: Researchers have found a link between neighborhood risk factors and youth risk behaviors. However, the pathways by which this occurs remain poorly understood. This study sought to test a hypothesized pathway that suggests the influence of neighborhood risk on sexual risk and substance use among urban African American youth may operate indirectly via their psychological outlook about current and future opportunities. METHOD: Secondary data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the conceptual framework. The sample included 592 African American youth (61% female, 39% male) mean age 15.58 years, 1.23 SD. A modified structural equation model (SEM) met prespecified global fit index criteria. RESULTS: The model contained 3 indirect paths linking increased neighborhood risk to increased sexual risk and substance use through higher levels of negative psychological outlook and youth approval of substance use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings increase our understanding of factors that influence the initiation and progression of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among urban African American adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record

'Other than that, I'm Good': Formerly Incarcerated Young Black Men's Self-Perceptions of Health Status.

Black men are incarcerated at higher rates than men from other racial groups, and there are significant health disparities disfavoring Black men overall. Reentry from incarceration is an important time period for health risks. However, health studies among recently released Black male youth populations are limited. This mixed methods study examined perceived health status and health care utilization among recently released Black men ages 18-25 years. Qualitative interviews (N=20) and quantitative surveys (N= 170) were conducted. Qualitative findings described several health concerns, including chronic conditions. Quantitative results indicated most survey respondents rated their health status as excellent or good despite reporting having a health concern within the past year. Health status ranking was examined by how men felt vs. an objective measure such as a medical report. In addition, men indicated having problems finding health care since their release. This study may be beneficial for addressing ways to promote health and health care utilization among formerly incarcerated young Black men.

Gold diggers, video vixens, and Jezebels: stereotype images and substance use among urban African American girls.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to examine the relationship of negative stereotype attitudes and endorsement of western standards of beauty (i.e., colorism) on the substance use behavior of low-income urban African American girls. Racial socialization was also examined as a potential moderator to identify any buffering effects of parental messages concerning race. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-two African American female adolescents (mean age 13.02 years) were recruited from community venues in a Northeastern city. Adolescents completed a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: Results of a series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that girls who accepted an African American standard of beauty reported lower levels of substance use than those who endorsed colorism. Additionally, racial socialization buffered the negative relationship of colorism to substance use behavior, but only for a certain subset of girls. CONCLUSIONS: Tailored health interventions that consider both gender-specific and race-specific issues may improve risk behaviors, including substance use among adolescent females.

Why take an HIV test? Concerns, benefits, and strategies to promote HIV testing among low-income heterosexual African American young adults.

A qualitative study examined perceptions of HIV testing and strategies to enhance HIV testing among HIV-negative African American heterosexual young adults (ages 18-25 years). Twenty-six focus groups (13 male groups, 13 female groups) were conducted in two low-income communities (urban and rural). All sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was completed using AnSWR software. Many participants expressed that learning one's HIV status, regardless of the result, was a benefit of taking an HIV test because this was perceived to produce emotional relief. Additional benefits included the avoidance of unknowingly spreading the virus, being offered treatment access if HIV-positive, and taking time to assess and modify risky sexual behaviors if HIV-negative. If diagnosed HIV-positive, HIV testing concerns included the recognition of one's mortality, the experience of social stigma, and concerns about accessing affordable treatment. Recommended promotion strategies included the use of HIV-positive individuals, pop culture icons, and the media to promote HIV testing messages.

Perceived peer norms and sexual intentions among African American preadolescents.

The purpose of the research was to examine whether perceived peer dating and sexual experience norms are related to attitudes toward dating and sexual behavior and to precoital and sexual intentions among African American preadolescents. Participants included 1,046 African American youth aged 9-12 years (M = 10.57 years). Youth completed a baseline survey as part of a larger intervention study. Perceived peer norms regarding dating and sexual experience were positively related to youth attitudes toward dating and sexual behavior. Youth who perceived their peers as not engaging in sexual activity were less likely to have precoital or sexual intentions. The relationships were not moderated by gender of the preadolescent. Findings from this study suggest that addressing peer norms around dating and sexual activity among preadolescent African American youth may be important for prevention efforts aimed at encouraging abstinence and the delay of sexual activity.

HIV and sexually transmitted infection risk behaviors and beliefs among Black West Indian immigrants and US-born Blacks.

OBJECTIVES: We compared Black West Indian immigrants' and US-born Blacks' sexual and drug-use risk behaviors and their beliefs related to using condoms and informing partners of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to identify possible differences in risk. METHODS: We drew data from the baseline assessment of a clinic-based intervention designed to increase partner STI notification. RESULTS: Black West Indian men were less likely than were US-born Black men to report nonregular partners. There were no differences in condom use. US-born Black women were more likely than were Black West Indian women to be extremely confident that they could convince their regular partners to use condoms (odds ratio [OR] = 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21, 4.76), whereas there were no differences between Black West Indian and US-born Black men on this measure (interaction P = .06). US-born Black women were more likely than were Black West Indian women to be extremely confident in their ability to discuss STI screening with their regular partners (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.03, 3.47). CONCLUSIONS: Black West Indian women's lower levels of confidence that they can discuss STI screening with their regular partners and convince these partners to use condoms may increase their infection risk. Gender-sensitive interventions are warranted for Black West Indian immigrants, especially women.

Community violence and sociomoral development: an African American cultural perspective.

This review considers the impact of exposure to community violence on sociomoral development within the African American community. Common sequelae of covictimization, as well as cultural experiences of the African American community, frame a discussion of the implications of covictimization for the development of moral reasoning. Recommendations for future research and intervention are provided.