Gender Norms and Partner Selection: HIV/STI Risk Among urban Youth

描述（由申请人提供）：在美国，性传播感染（STIs）不成比例地影响青少年，尤其是非洲裔美国人[CDC， STD Surveillance, 2005]。性风险行为并不能单独解释其风险增加的幅度[Ellen el . al., 1998]，这导致研究人员探索其他解释，如伴侣选择模式。许多研究发现，某些性伴侣的特征，更广泛地称为性混合模式，与性传播感染有关，性别和种族不同。例如，与同龄人相比，非洲裔美国男性青年更有可能同时拥有性伴侣[CDC， YRBS, 2004]，非洲裔美国女性青年更有可能拥有被监禁过的伴侣[Mertz, 2002；包,2000;哦,1994]。我们目前对性伴侣选择的社会文化决定因素的理解是有限的。性伴侣选择的理论并没有考虑到有色人种的贫困青年，而这些理论可以为我们的讨论提供信息。这项拟议研究的目的是确定社会经济地位和个人性行为之外的因素，特别是社会背景，这些因素导致非裔美国青年的性传播感染高发。具体来说，我们感兴趣的是在城市青年样本中检查性别角色信念及其与性伴侣选择和风险行为的关系。性别角色信念是受文化约束的信念和对男性和女性的期望，这些信念和期望决定了独特和特定的性别行为。通过在马里兰州巴尔的摩市15-24岁的人口统计学代表性样本，该研究旨在：1。确定性别角色信念（过度男性化、过度女性化、关系中的权力分配）、性伴侣选择模式和危险性行为是否因年龄、性别、种族/民族和社会经济地位而异；2. 确定性别角色信念是否介导种族/民族和社会经济地位对性伴侣选择模式和危险性行为的影响；和3。定性探讨马里兰州巴尔的摩市15-24岁女性的性别角色信念和性行为。为了达到研究目的，我们将对马里兰州巴尔的摩市15-24岁的年轻人进行随机抽样横断面调查（N=480）和深度访谈（N=40）。这项研究是第一个以社区为基础的关于性别角色信念和伴侣选择模式的研究之一，研究对象是来自不同经济和种族背景的男女青年。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the U.S., sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect adolescents, especially African Americans [CDC, STD Surveillance, 2005]. Sexual risk behaviors do not solely explain the magnitude of their increased risk [Ellen el al., 1998], leading investigators to explore other explanations such as partner selection patterns. Numerous studies have found that certain sexual partner characteristics, more broadly referred to as sexual mixing patterns, are associated with STIs, with differences by gender and ethnicity. For example, compared to their peers, African American male youth more likely to have concurrent sex partners [CDC, YRBS, 2004] and African American female youth are more likely to have partners who have been incarcerated [Mertz, 2002; Pack, 2000; Oh, 1994]. Our current understanding of the socio-cultural determinants of sex partner selection is limited. Theories of sexual partner selection that could be proposed to inform our discussion have not been developed with impoverished youth of color in mind. The goal of the proposed study is to identify factors beyond socioeconomic status and individual sexual behaviors, particularly social contexts, which contribute to high rates of STIs in African American youth. Specifically, we are interested in examining gender role beliefs and their association with sexual partner selection and risk behaviors among an urban sample of youth. Gender role beliefs are culturally-bound beliefs and expectations about men and women that dictate unique and specific gendered behaviors. Through a demographically representative sample of 15-24 year olds in Baltimore, MD, the study aims to: 1. determine if gender role beliefs (hypermasculinity, hyperfemininity, power distribution in relationships), sexual partner selection patterns, and risky sexual behaviors vary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and SES; 2. determine whether gender role beliefs mediate the effects of race/ethnicity and SES on sexual partner selection patterns and risky sexual behaviors; and 3. qualitatively explore gender role beliefs and sexual behaviors among 15-24 year old females in Baltimore, MD. To meet the study aims, we will conduct a random-sample cross-sectional survey (N=480) and in-depth interviews (N=40) of 15-24 year olds across Baltimore City, Maryland. The study is one of the first community-based studies of gender role beliefs and partner selection patterns among an economically and racially diverse sample of male and female youth. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed study aims to examine gender role beliefs and partner selection patterns among a community-based, economic and racially diverse sample of 15-24 year olds in Baltimore, Maryland. The study will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of sexual risk behaviors among this population at a heightened risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.