The most recent research on risky sexual behaviors is primarily based on adolescent, predominately White, or multiple race (e.g., African American and White) samples. There is a paucity of literature focused exclusively on African Americans, particularly African American emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Given the increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for college aged African Americans, it is important to understand factors that may decrease engaging in risky sexual behaviors that are specific to this group. The current study examined the roles of parental warmth and communication about sex as protective factors. Participants (n = 301) completed a series of questionnaires assessing parental warmth, parental communication about sex, permissive peer sex messages, permissive social media sex messages, and sexual risk behaviors. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed more parental communication about sex (for mothers and fathers) and more maternal warmth during adolescence were associated with less risky sexual behavior for African American college students. In terms of peer influence, more permissive peer sex messages were associated with greater risky sexual behavior, whereas permissive social media sex messages were not. These results highlight the importance of parental and peer influences on the sexual behavior of African American college students. Based on the findings parents and peers should be included in adolescent and emerging adult risk reduction intervention efforts.
","abstract_html":"<p>The most recent research on risky sexual behaviors is primarily based on adolescent, predominately White, or multiple race (e.g., African American and White) samples. There is a paucity of literature focused exclusively on African Americans, particularly African American emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Given the increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for college aged African Americans, it is important to understand factors that may decrease engaging in risky sexual behaviors that are specific to this group. The current study examined the roles of parental warmth and communication about sex as protective factors. Participants (n = 301) completed a series of questionnaires assessing parental warmth, parental communication about sex, permissive peer sex messages, permissive social media sex messages, and sexual risk behaviors. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed more parental communication about sex (for mothers and fathers) and more maternal warmth during adolescence were associated with less risky sexual behavior for African American college students. In terms of peer influence, more permissive peer sex messages were associated with greater risky sexual behavior, whereas permissive social media sex messages were not. These results highlight the importance of parental and peer influences on the sexual behavior of African American college students. Based on the findings parents and peers should be included in adolescent and emerging adult risk reduction intervention efforts.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Haywood, Jacqueline Eunice"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Desideria Hacker","Darlene Colson","Kristin Heron","Robin Lewis","James Paulson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-07-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-07-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:02Z","subjects":["African American","College students","Emerging adults","Risky sex","Sexual behavior","Sexual health","African American Studies","Clinical Psychology","Public Health Education and Promotion"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Protective Factors Against Peer and Social Media Sex Messages: The Moderating Role of Parental Influences on African American Emerging Adult Students' Sexual Behaviors"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Desideria Hacker","Darlene Colson","Kristin Heron","Robin Lewis","James Paulson"],"dc:creator":["Haywood, Jacqueline Eunice"],"dc:date.available":["2017-10-26T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The most recent research on risky sexual behaviors is primarily based on adolescent, predominately White, or multiple race (e.g., African American and White) samples. There is a paucity of literature focused exclusively on African Americans, particularly African American emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Given the increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for college aged African Americans, it is important to understand factors that may decrease engaging in risky sexual behaviors that are specific to this group. The current study examined the roles of parental warmth and communication about sex as protective factors. Participants (n = 301) completed a series of questionnaires assessing parental warmth, parental communication about sex, permissive peer sex messages, permissive social media sex messages, and sexual risk behaviors. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed more parental communication about sex (for mothers and fathers) and more maternal warmth during adolescence were associated with less risky sexual behavior for African American college students. In terms of peer influence, more permissive peer sex messages were associated with greater risky sexual behavior, whereas permissive social media sex messages were not. These results highlight the importance of parental and peer influences on the sexual behavior of African American college students. Based on the findings parents and peers should be included in adolescent and emerging adult risk reduction intervention efforts.
"],"dc:identifier":["9780355409291","https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/59"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"],"dc:subject":["African American","College students","Emerging adults","Risky sex","Sexual behavior","Sexual health","African American Studies","Clinical Psychology","Public Health Education and Promotion"],"dc:title":["Protective Factors Against Peer and Social Media Sex Messages: The Moderating Role of Parental Influences on African American Emerging Adult Students' Sexual Behaviors"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:02Z"}