title: Relationship Power, Sexual Decision Making, and HIV Risk Among Midlife and Older Women.
abstract: The number of midlife and older women with HIV/AIDS is high and increasing, especially among women of color. This article addresses these demographic realities by reporting on findings about self-esteem, relationship power, and HIV risk from a pilot study of midlife and older women. A purposive sample (N = 110) of ethnically, economically, and educationally diverse women 40 years and older from the Greater Los Angeles Area was surveyed to determine their levels of self-esteem, general relationship power, sexual decision-making power, safer sex behaviors, and HIV knowledge. Women with higher levels of self-esteem exercised greater power in their relationships with their partner. Women with higher levels of general relationship power and self-esteem tend to exercise greater power in sexual decision making, such as having sex and choosing sexual acts. Income and sexual decision-making power were statistically significant in predicting the use of condoms. Implications and recommendations for future HIV/AIDS research and intervention targeting midlife and older women are presented.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , California State University , Los Angeles , CA.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altschuler
authors.forename: Siyon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rhee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: HIV risk; ageism; midlife and older women; relationship power; self-esteem; sexual decision making