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Published in: Journal of Urban Health 4/2014

01-08-2014

A Qualitative Analysis of Father–Son Relationships among HIV-Positive Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Authors: Sophia A. Hussen, Danielle Gilliard, Cleopatra H. Caldwell, Karen Andes, Rana Chakraborty, David J. Malebranche

Published in: Journal of Urban Health | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) are experiencing high and rising rates of HIV infection, more than any other age-risk group category in the USA. Contributors to HIV risk in this group remain incompletely elucidated. We conducted exploratory qualitative interviews with 20 HIV-positive YBMSM aged 17–24 and found that father–son relationships were perceived to be important sociocontextual influences in participants’ lives. Participants discussed the degree of their fathers’ involvement in their lives, emotional qualities of the father–son relationship, communication about sex, and masculine socialization. Participants also described pathways linking father–son relationships to HIV risk, which were mediated by psychological and situational risk scenarios. Our thematic analysis suggests that father–son relationships are important to the psychosocial development of YBMSM, with the potential to either exacerbate or attenuate sexual risk for HIV. Interventions designed to strengthen father–son relationships may provide a promising direction for future health promotion efforts in this population.
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Metadata
Title
A Qualitative Analysis of Father–Son Relationships among HIV-Positive Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men
Authors
Sophia A. Hussen
Danielle Gilliard
Cleopatra H. Caldwell
Karen Andes
Rana Chakraborty
David J. Malebranche
Publication date
01-08-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Urban Health / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 1099-3460
Electronic ISSN: 1468-2869
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-013-9864-1

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