title: Pathways to HIV-Related Behavior Among Heterosexual, Rural Black Men: A Person-Centered Analysis.
abstract: We investigated the psychosocial mechanisms linking personal and contextual risk factors to HIV-related behavior among 498 rural Black men. We characterized HIV-related behavior in terms of profile groups and hypothesized that contextual and personal risk factors (childhood adversity, community disadvantage, incarceration, and racial discrimination) would predict HIV-related behavior indirectly via two psychosocial mechanisms: impulsivity and negative relational schemas. Study results documented three HIV-related behavior profile groups. The Safer group reported low levels of risky behavior. The Risk-Taking group reported inconsistent condom use and elevated substance use. The Multiple Partners group reported the highest numbers of partners and relatively consistent condom use. Risk factors predicted profile groups directly and indirectly through psychosocial mechanisms. Impulsivity mediated the association between community disadvantage and membership in the risk-taking group. Negative relational schemas mediated the associations of childhood experiences and community disadvantage with membership in the multiple partners group. Specificity in pathways suggests the need for targeted interventions based on multidimensional characterizations of risk behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 123 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. smkogan@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 123 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Junhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnum
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 123 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 123 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African American men; HIV; Heterosexual men; Psychosocial aspects; Risk taking; Rural environments