2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
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Online Program

336900
Effects of socioeconomic status on sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic and non-Hispanic young adults


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Jennifer Mendiola, M.A., Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA
Jitske Tiemensma, Ph.D., Psychological Sciences-Health Psychology, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA
Mariaelena Gonzalez, Ph.D., Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA
Anna V. Song, PhD, Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA
Background: Hispanic young adults (YAs) are disproportionately affected by HIV, compared to White YAs. Low socioeconomic status has been associated with greater rates of HIV infection and sexual risk behaviors across all ethnic groups. There are few studies, however, that have examined the socioeconomic differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic YAs’ HIV sexual risk behaviors. Understanding the differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic YAs’ socioeconomic status (SES) and sexual risk behavior is crucial for reducing the number of new HIV cases each year in the Hispanic community.

Methods: We used multiple regression analyses to examine SES indicators of condom use intentions in a casual relationship for Hispanic (n = 152) and non-Hispanic college students (n= 119). Mother’s educations level, income, and speaking Spanish at home were predictors of condom use intentions with a casual partner.

Results: Hispanic YAs reported fewer intentions to use a condom in a casual sexual relationship (M = 1.30, SD = 1.19) than non-Hispanic YAs (M = 1.52, SD = .90; t(267) = -2.21, p < .05). In a multiple regression model among Hispanics only, we found that YAs who had mothers with less than a high school education was associated with fewer condom use intentions (B = -.33, p < .05).

Discussion: For Hispanic YAs, a mother’s low education was associated with fewer condom use intentions in a casual relationship. Thus promoting sexual health behaviors that reduce HIV transmission in the Hispanic community should target at-risk Hispanic YAs with mothers at a lower educational attainment.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
Identify and compare socioeconomic indicators of sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic and non-Hispanic youth. Discuss the relevance of socioeconomic status in reducing HIV infection rates in the Hispanic community.

Keyword(s): HIV Risk Behavior, Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a health psychology doctoral student at the University of California, Merced. Under the direction of Anna V. Song, I have worked on examining the effects of socioeconomic status(SES)and its associations with sexual health behaviors.
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: 2035.0: Sexual Behavior and HIV