255362 Protective effect of racial identity on risky sexual behaviors among emerging adult Black men who have sex with men

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Ja'Nina Walker, PhD , Psychology Department, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  
Background: Racial identity is known to decrease psychological stressors and increase overall psychological well-being. However, little research has been conducted to examine the protective influence of racial identity on sexual-risk behavior, particularly among ethnoracial and sexual minority populations. Given the continual increases of HIV incidence among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM), who constitute 41% of new HIV cases annually, it is imperative to investigate potential protective factors to HIV transmission within this population.

Methods: BMSM (N=120) emerging adults completed an online survey designed to explore the relations between identity, psychological well-being, and sexual behavior. Hierarchical linear regression was run to assess the predictive power of racial centrality (i.e., how central one's self-identified race is to their sense of self), racial private regard (i.e., how individuals feel about their self-identified race), and racial public regard (i.e., how individuals feel society views their self-identified race) on sexual behavior.

Results: Participants reporting greater racial centrality engaged in fewer total anal sex acts (β= -.290, p<.01) and fewer unprotected anal sex acts (β=-.318, p<.01). Participants who internalized feelings that society views Black Americans in a positive light also engaged in fewer total anal sex acts (β=-.287, p<.01) and fewer unprotected anal sex acts (β=-.256, p<.05).

Discussion: These results highlight the potential protective factor of racial identity salience on sexual risk behavior for a population of men most impacted by the HIV epidemic. Public health professionals should integrate programs that increase racial identity salience for BMSM when developing HIV prevention interventions.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the role of racial identity in current and future HIV prevention efforts for Black men who have sex with men Discuss the protective role of racial identity on risky sexual behavior

Keywords: African American, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been in the field of HIV/AIDS for six years and I am the principal investigator on the data being submitted. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for AIDS Prevention. My research interests include developing culturally competent HIV prevention interventions for ethno-racial and sexual minority youth and young adults.
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.

Back to: 4013.0: HIV/AIDS:Research, Prevention and Education for African Americans across the lifespan