title: Sexual communication and sexual behavior among young adult heterosexual latinos.
abstract: We examined verbal sexual health communication, pleasure discussions, and physical sexual communication in relation to condom use by young adult, heterosexual Latinos (ages 18-30 years). Participants (N = 220, 51% female) were recruited in a Midwestern state. Verbal sexual health communication was positively associated with consistent condom use among men (odds ratio [OR] = 2.66, p < .05) and women (OR = 3.12, p < .05). For men, pleasure discussions were negatively associated with consistent condom use (OR = 0.21, p < .05). For women, verbal sexual health communication was positively associated with condom use at last sex (OR = 2.75, p < .05), whereas physical sexual communication was negatively associated with condom use at last sex (OR = .29, p < .05). Various aspects of sexual communication may be important in HIV-prevention programs with young Latinos. Physical sexual communication and pleasure discussions, in particular, warrant further exploration given negative relationships with condom use.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bauermeister
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Villarruel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Latinos; sexual behavior; sexual communication; young adults