185883 Peer influence, self-esteem and sexual communication: A path analysis of consistent condom use

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lara DePadilla, MS , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Jessica Sales, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Michael Windle, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Gina M. Wingood, ScD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Eve Rose, MSPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Background: Sexual communication skills have long been the focus of STD/HIV interventions. It may be important to consider sexual communication as part of a larger mechanism influencing behavior. This analysis investigated whether the association between peer influence and partner condom communication self-efficacy (PCCSE) was mediated by self-esteem and whether the link between peer influence and consistent condom use was mediated by PCCSE.

Methods: Baseline self reported demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral measures were collected from 566 recently sexually active African American females, 15 to 21 years of age, who participated in an STD/HIV prevention intervention in Atlanta, GA. Path analysis was used to examine: (1) the potential role of self-esteem as a mediator between peer norms supportive of risky sexual behavior and peer social support on the outcome of PCCSE, and (2) the role of PCCSE as mediator between the peer influence variables and consistent condom use. The sample was split to validate results.

Results: Preliminary analyses indicate evidence of mediation by self-esteem in the association of peer influence and PCCSE. The association between peer influence and consistent condom use was not mediated by PCCSE. PCCSE was directly associated with consistent condom use in the split samples. Model fit statistics were indicative of good fit.

Conclusions: Results suggest that peer influence and self-esteem may be antecedents of PCCSE in the context of its association with consistent condom use. Thus, these constructs may be important to consider as targets of sexual risk reduction interventions designed to improve PCCSE.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the importance of sexual communication skills for African American young women. 2) Discuss the potential role of self-esteem when considering the association between peer influence and sexual communication skills.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Sexual risk behavior among African American young women is the topic of my dissertation. I have completed coursework and participated in projects that apply the analyses used. I conducted all of the analyses for this abstract under the supervision of one of my committee members who is an expert in this type of analysis as well as my primary mentor who is an expert in this field of research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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