Article

Body image and African American females' sexual health.

Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Journal of Women s Health &amp Gender-Based Medicine 07/2002; 11(5):433-9. DOI:10.1089/15246090260137608
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT This study examines the association between African American adolescent females' body image and their sexual health.
African American adolescent females (n = 522) completed a survey that assessed body image using a 7-item scale (alpha = 0.71) and a face-to-face interview that assessed sexual behaviors.
In logistic regression analyses, controlling for depression, self-esteem and body mass index (BMI), adolescents who were more dissatisfied with their body image were more likely to fear abandonment as a result of negotiating condom use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.3, p = 0.02), more likely to perceive that they had fewer options for sexual partners (AOR = 2.4, p = 0.001), more likely to perceive themselves as having limited control in their sexual relationships (AOR = 2.0, p = 0.002), and more likely to worry about acquiring HIV(AOR = 1.5, p = 0.04). There was an association between having a greater dissatisfaction with one's body image and never using condoms during sexual intercourse in the past 30 days (AOR = 1.6, p = 0.04) and more likely to engage in unprotected vaginal sex in the prior 6 months (AOR = 1.6, p = 0.04).
Prior research has demonstrated an association between African American women's body image and greater obesity risk, lower self-esteem, and greater depression. The present study has shown an association between body image dissatisfaction and a range of sexual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Women who are more dissatisfied with their body image may be at greater risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV infection.

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    Article: The skinny on sexual risk: the effects of BMI on STI incidence and risk.
    Trace S Kershaw, Anna Arnold, Jessica B Lewis, Urania Magriples, Jeannette R Ickovics
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Few studies examine the influence of body mass index (BMI) on sexual risk. The purpose of this study was to determine whether BMI among 704 young mothers (ages 14-25) related to STI incidence and sexual risk. We examined the effect of BMI groups (normal weight, overweight, and obese) at 6 months postpartum on STI incidence and risky sex (e.g., unprotected sex, multiple partners, risky and casual partner) at 12 months postpartum. At 6 months postpartum, 31% of participants were overweight and 40% were obese. Overweight women were more likely to have an STI (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.11-2.89, P < .05) and a risky partner (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.08, P < .05) at 12 months postpartum compared to normal weight women. However, obese women were less likely to have an STI than normal weight women (OR = .57, 95% CI = .34-.96, P < .01). BMI related to STI incidence and sexual risk behavior. Integrated approaches to weight loss and sexual risk prevention should be explored.
    AIDS and Behavior 10/2010; 15(7):1527-38. · 3.49 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

7-item scale
 
African American adolescent females' body image
 
African American women's body image
 
assessed body image
 
assessed sexual behaviors
 
body image
 
body image dissatisfaction
 
body mass index
 
condom use
 
face-to-face interview
 
fear abandonment
 
greater obesity risk
 
HIV infection
 
infections
 
logistic regression analyses
 
lower self-esteem
 
odds ratio [AOR]
 
one's body image
 
prior 6 months
 
unprotected vaginal sex
 

Gina M Wingood