The Association Between African American Father–Child Relationships and HIV Testing

Abstract

The existing literature identifies parent communication as a protective mechanism in the reduction of sexual risk behaviors among youth; however, not much is known about father–child communication and bonding and its association with HIV testing. Therefore, this study examines the link between the relationship, bonding, and communication shared by African American (AA) fathers and their children and HIV testing over time. This secondary data analysis included data from Waves 1 and 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health on the health of adolescents to adults in a sample of AA males and females ( N = 509), with a mean age of 16 years. The independent variables included fathers’ communication, bonding, and relationships, and the dependent variables included HIV testing. A multinomial analysis assessed the factors that contributed to or prevented HIV testing. It was found that the overall model was statistically significant; F(24, 55) = 8.95; p < .001. The results suggest that father–adolescent communication was statistically significant and positively associated with HIV testing ( B = 23.88; p < .05). AA adolescents who reported going to the doctor or making a nursing visit were more likely to get tested multiple times ( B = 13.91; p < .001). Our findings indicate that father–child relationships are essential to adolescent sexual development and serve as a protective factor against threats to sexual health. Future studies should be designed to investigate the cognitive mechanisms through which the father–child bonding and communication may impact HIV testing.

Associations between Parent–Child Communication on Sexual Health and Drug Use and Use of Drugs during Sex among Urban Black Youth

“…Our findings indicated that an increase in parent–child sexual communication, parental bonding, and lower levels of peer pressure decreased the prevalence rate of drug use among Black youth. These findings are consistent with the prior literature that parental factors can be protective for Black youth [ 21 , 24 ]. Our results also indicated that youth who did not experience peer pressure were less likely to have sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which suggests the effect of the mesosystem on Black youth and young adults in this sample.…”

“…Parent–child communication has been shown to be a significant protective factor for youth [ 21 , 24 ], and evidence has indicated that parent–child communication is the preferred source of quality sexual health education as well as an effective means of maintaining sexual well-being among urban Black youth [ 25 , 26 ]. Black male youth residing in the inner city whose mothers are supportive and openly communicate with them about their sexual health are less likely to take sexual risks that lead to unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies, and HIV and other STIs [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

“…For instance, family substance use history and attitudes, family conflict, lack of family support, and high parent–child conflict are factors that contribute to substance use and the youth’s engagement in sexual risk behaviors [ 19 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Other literature has demonstrated that youth are more likely to use condoms, have reduced numbers of sexual partners, get tested for HIV, and use drugs when they have positive relationships with their parents and communicate with their parents about sex [ 19 , 21 , 24 ]. In addition, prior research has demonstrated that drug use often co-occurs with sexual intercourse that is influenced by these ecological factors.…”

The Influence of Family Bonding, Support, Engagement in Healthcare, on PrEP Stigma among Young Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Path Analysis

“…Parental bonding is a subjective experience of affection from a parent towards a child. The core tenet of the bond is the perceived feeling of "love" expressed in parental behavior [15][16][17]. There is a dearth of literature on parental bonding in BLMSM and its effects on their PrEP attitudes, stigma, and use and perceptions of stigma.…”

The Mental Health of Black Youth Affected by Community Violence: Family and School Context as Pathways to Resilience

“…Parent Relationships was measured using a 7-item scale, and the items have been used in prior research [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Study respondents were asked questions such as “how disappointed would your parents be if you did not graduate from high school” and “how well do your parents know how you spend money?” The response categories ranged from 1 = not at all to 5 = very much, and higher scores indicated an increase in parent–child relationships.…”