| Description |
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at disproportionate risk for HIV infection. Parent adolescent communication about sex, particularly mother-adolescent communication, has a protective influence on adolescent sexual risk behavior. However, it is unclear whether these findings generalize to YMSM. The current study used the theory of planned behavior as a framework to examine how parent adolescent communication about condoms is associated with determinants of condom use behavior among YMSM. A measure of parent adolescent communication about condoms among YMSM was developed based on qualitative data. Five hundred and forty-three YMSM ages 14 - 18 (M=16.60) who were "out" to at least one parent completed an online cross-sectional survey. YMSM reported on communication with mothers and fathers separately, data were analyzed separately for each parent, and YMSM were included in each analysis only if that respective parent knew they were gay or bisexual. The same factor structure of parent-adolescent communication about condoms was identified for data about mothers and fathers. Structural equation models were estimated. Facets of mother-adolescent communication were associated with attitudes about condoms, subjective norms for condom use, perceived behavioral control, intentions to use condoms, and indirectly, instances of condomless anal intercourse. Only quality of father communication was associated with norms and behavioral control. Parent-adolescent communication about condoms is associated with determinants of condom use behavior among YMSM, and mother communication exerted an indirect influence on HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. Interventions designed to enhance parentadolescent communication about condoms could prove efficacious in reducing HIV infections among YMSM. |
