In an effort to explain the markedly high HIV infection rate for African American women, several theories have been posited. One theory suggests that expectations about relationships (i.e., relationship schemas and scripts) may be useful in explaining this phenomenon. Qualitative research has identified several relevant relationship scripts for this population that seem to be associated with safer sex behaviors; however, limited quantitative research has been conducted to confirm and validate these findings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of relationship schemas in African American women (N=441). After initial item generation, pilot testing using a focus group, and item elimination, the data were factor-analyzed to validate a Relationship Schema Scale for African American women, RSS-AA. The RSS-AA was also found to be meaningfully related to self-esteem and depression, factors that are independently related to safer sex behavior.
","abstract_html":"<p>In an effort to explain the markedly high HIV infection rate for African American women, several theories have been posited. One theory suggests that expectations about relationships (i.e., relationship schemas and scripts) may be useful in explaining this phenomenon. Qualitative research has identified several relevant relationship scripts for this population that seem to be associated with safer sex behaviors; however, limited quantitative research has been conducted to confirm and validate these findings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of relationship schemas in African American women (N=441). After initial item generation, pilot testing using a focus group, and item elimination, the data were factor-analyzed to validate a Relationship Schema Scale for African American women, RSS-AA. The RSS-AA was also found to be meaningfully related to self-esteem and depression, factors that are independently related to safer sex behavior.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Scott, Syreeta"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Stephen Jefferson, PhD, Chair","Tamara Loverich, PhD","Tom Schmitt, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z","subjects":["Sex; African American women; self-esteem","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/300","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Stephen Jefferson, PhD, Chair","Tamara Loverich, PhD","Tom Schmitt, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Scott, Syreeta"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2011-04-08T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Sex; African American women; self-esteem","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/300"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In an effort to explain the markedly high HIV infection rate for African American women, several theories have been posited. One theory suggests that expectations about relationships (i.e., relationship schemas and scripts) may be useful in explaining this phenomenon. Qualitative research has identified several relevant relationship scripts for this population that seem to be associated with safer sex behaviors; however, limited quantitative research has been conducted to confirm and validate these findings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of relationship schemas in African American women (N=441). After initial item generation, pilot testing using a focus group, and item elimination, the data were factor-analyzed to validate a Relationship Schema Scale for African American women, RSS-AA. The RSS-AA was also found to be meaningfully related to self-esteem and depression, factors that are independently related to safer sex behavior.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["African American relationship schema scale: Development and validation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Stephen Jefferson, PhD, Chair","Tamara Loverich, PhD","Tom Schmitt, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Scott, Syreeta"],"dc:date.available":["2011-04-08T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["In an effort to explain the markedly high HIV infection rate for African American women, several theories have been posited. One theory suggests that expectations about relationships (i.e., relationship schemas and scripts) may be useful in explaining this phenomenon. Qualitative research has identified several relevant relationship scripts for this population that seem to be associated with safer sex behaviors; however, limited quantitative research has been conducted to confirm and validate these findings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of relationship schemas in African American women (N=441). After initial item generation, pilot testing using a focus group, and item elimination, the data were factor-analyzed to validate a Relationship Schema Scale for African American women, RSS-AA. The RSS-AA was also found to be meaningfully related to self-esteem and depression, factors that are independently related to safer sex behavior.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/300"],"dc:subject":["Sex; African American women; self-esteem","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["African American relationship schema scale: Development and validation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z"}