The relationship of self-esteem and risky sexual behaviors in young African-American women.
In the United States, African-American women are at disproportionate risk for contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and face the most profound burden of HIV infection. Reducing the risk of exposure to HIV in African-American women is a priority for health-care providers. The findings of this study add to the existing literature by examining the relationship of self-esteem and risky sexual behaviors in young African-American women. Lack of self-esteem was one of the themes that emerged from a larger study that investigated how African-American women define HIV-risky behavior. In the current study, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a convenience sample of 33 African-American women (N = 33) from three metropolitan regions within Michigan. Findings highlight the importance of understanding the relationship between self-esteem and its implications for HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention.
Oakland University, School of Nursing, 410 O'Dowd Hall, Rochester, MI 48309, USA. pittigli@oakland.edu
Laura
L
Pittiglio
Frances
F
Jackson
Ann
A
Florio
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*