The Influence of Childhood Adversity on Rural Black Men's Sexual Risk Behavior
BackgroundYoung Black men living in resource poor rural environments are disproportionately affected by both adverse childhood experiences and HIV/STIs. The influence of childhood adversity on sexual risk behavior remains to be examined among this vulnerable population.PurposeIn this study, we investigated the influence of overall adversity as well as three subcomponents, abusive parenting, parental neglect, and witnessing family violence, on men's engagement in sexual risk behavior. We hypothesized that adverse experiences would predict engagement in sexual risk behaviors including multiple sexual partnerships, inconsistent condom use, frequent sexual activity, and concurrent substance abuse and sexual activity. We tested formally the extent to which defensive relational schemas mediated these associations.MethodsHypotheses were tested with data from 505 rural Black men (M age 20.29, SD 1.10) participating in the African American Men's Health Project. Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling. Self report data were gathered from participants via audio computer assisted self interviews.ResultsBi factor analyses revealed that, in addition to a common adversity factor, neglect independently predicted sexual risk behavior. Men's defensive relational schemas partially mediated the influence of the common adversity factor as well as the neglect subcomponent on sexual risk behavior.ConclusionsThe present research identified a potential risk factor for sexual risk behavior in an understudied and vulnerable population. Adverse childhood experiences in general, and neglect in particular, may place many young Black men at risk for engaging in sexual risk behavior due in part to the influence of these experiences on men's development of relational schemas characterized by defensiveness and mistrust.
Annals of behavioral medicine a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine