Minority Health and Health Equity Archive

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21769

Welcome to the Minority Health and Health Equity Archive (MHHEA), an electronic archive for digital resource materials in the fields of minority health and health disparities research and policy. It is offered as a no-charge resource to the public, academic scholars and health science researchers interested in the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.

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Author: search.filters.author.Crosby, RichardSubject: search.filters.subject.Stress

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    A Prospective Study of Psychological Distress and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Black Adolescent Females
    (2001) DiClemente, Ralph; Wingood, Gina; Crosby, Richard; Sionean, Catlainn; Brown, Larry; Rothbaum, Barbara; Zimand, Elana; Cobb, Brenda; Harrington, Kathy; Davies, Susan
    ABSTRACT. Objective. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between adolescents’ psychological distress and their sexually transmitted disease/ human immunodeficiency virus (STD/HIV)-associated sexual behaviors and attitudes. Method. Sexually active black adolescent females (N 522) completed, at baseline and again 6 months later, a self-administered questionnaire that assessed sexual health attitudes and emotional distress symptoms (using standardized measures, .84), a structured interview that assessed STD/HIV-associated sexual risk behaviors, and a urine screen for pregnancy. Results. In multivariate analyses, controlling for observed covariates, adolescents with significant distress at baseline were more likely than their peers, after 6 months, to be pregnant (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.0), have had unprotected vaginal sex (AOR 2.1), have nonmonogamous sex partners (AOR 1.7), and not use any form of contraception (AOR 1.5). Additionally, they were also more likely to: perceive barriers to condom use (AOR 2.2), be fearful of the adverse consequences of negotiating condom use (AOR 2.0), perceive less control in their relationship (AOR 2.0), have experienced dating violence (AOR 2.4), feel less efficacious in negotiating condom use with a new sex partner (AOR 1.6), and have norms nonsupportive of a healthy sexual relationship (AOR 1.7). Discussion. The findings suggest that psychological distress is predictive over a 6-month period of a spectrum of STD/HIV-associated sexual behaviors and high-risk attitudes. Brief screening to detect distress or depressive symptoms among adolescent females can alert the clinician to the need to conduct a sexual health history, initiate STD/HIV-preventive counseling, and refer for comprehensive psychological assessment and appropriate treatment. Among adolescents receiving STD treatment,those with even moderate emotional distress may be at heightened risk for further unhealthy outcomes. STD/ HIV interventions should also consider psychological distress as one potential risk factor that may impact program efficacy.
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    Correlates of Intent for Repeat HIV Testing Among Low-Income Women Attending an Urgent Care Clinic in the Urban South
    (2004) Crosby, Richard; Bonney, Elizabeth A; Odenat, Lydia
    A central challenge of the AIDS epidemic among African American women is promoting acceptance of repeat HIV testing among those at risk of infection. We conducted an exploratory study designed to identify behavioral and psychosocial correlates of intent for repeat HIV testing among women disenfranchised from traditional health care delivery systems. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 143women attending an urgent care center in the urban South. In multivariate analyses, three psychosocial correlates were significantly associated with women’s intent for repeat testing. Women who expressed less worry about HIV were substantially more likely, than those expressing greater worry, to report low intent for repeat testing [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=10.6, p=0.001]. Concern about having blood drawn was also robustly associated with intent (AOR=7.3, p=0.002). Finally, a one unit increase on the 5-point scale assessing less agreement that having HIV would make life complicated corresponded to 3.3 greater odds of indicating low intent (AOR=3.3, p=0.002). Study findings provide a potential focal point for efforts designed to promote repeat HIV testing among women from the study population.