Abstract
This qualitative study explored the impact of educational or
professional achievement on perceived power in relationships and
sexual encounters. Specifically, this study considered how
differences in partner educational or professional achievement
influenced protective sexual behaviors including condom negotiation
and patterns of condom use. African American emerging adult females
are disproportionately affected by sexual health risks such as
HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, when controlling
for condom use rates, African American females in this age group
continue to have more deleterious health outcomes when compared to
their White counterparts. Thus, it is important to understand the
underlying social and behavioral factors contributing to sexual
decision-making in this population. This study consisted of 19
semi-structured, in-depth interviews of African American females
attending a Historically Black College in the Southeastern United
States. The theory of gender and power and the social cognitive
theory were used as a framework for thematic analysis of the
relationship between perceived power and protective behaviors in a
cultural context. Results revealed that college women desired
partners who were or would become financially stable so that, in
the case of unintended pregnancy, they would have adequate support.
Women also described education as a self-efficacy booster for
partner communication which was shown to be important in perceived
power women felt in their relationships and sexual encounters.
Overall, these findings inform current and future multi-level
sexual risk reduction interventions and allow college campuses to
better align their resources to the African American emerging adult
female population.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
............................................................................................................
vi
Chapter I: Introduction
........................................................................................................
1
Problem
Definition..........................................................................................................
1
Problem Justification
......................................................................................................
2
Theoretical Framework
...................................................................................................
4
Purpose
............................................................................................................................
9
Chapter II. Literature Review
...........................................................................................
11
Partner Communication in African American
Couples ................................................ 11
The Impact of Condom Negotiation and Use
...............................................................
13
The African American Achievement Gap
....................................................................
15
Perceived Power in African American
Relationships ...................................................
16
Summary
.......................................................................................................................
16
Chapter III: Methodology
.................................................................................................
19
Research
Design............................................................................................................
19
Participants
....................................................................................................................
19
Data Collection & Management
...................................................................................
21
Data Analysis
................................................................................................................
23
Chapter IV: Results
...........................................................................................................
24
Participants
....................................................................................................................
24
Power Defined
..............................................................................................................
24
Perceived Power and Sexual Relationships
..................................................................
27
Condom Negotiation
.....................................................................................................
28
Impact of Perceived Power on Negotiation
..................................................................
32
Educational & Professional Achievement
....................................................................
33
Education and Perceived
Power....................................................................................
36
Achievement and Condom Negotiation
........................................................................
39
Chapter V: Discussion
......................................................................................................
43
Public Health Implications
............................................................................................
47
Implications for Future Research
..................................................................................
48
Strengths & Limitations
................................................................................................
48
Conclusion
....................................................................................................................
50
References
.........................................................................................................................
52
Appendix A
.......................................................................................................................
54
Appendix B
.......................................................................................................................
56
About this Master's Thesis
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