Colorism and perceived sexual risk taking among African American adolescent girls: where does racial socialization fit in this relationship?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Tasia M. Smith (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Stephanie Irby Coard

Abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the influences of colorism on perceived harm of sexual risk taking behaviors among 243 African American adolescent females. Additionally, this study sought to examine the potential moderating role of cultural pride reinforcement messages and cultural endorsement of the mainstream messages. Hierarchal linear regressions were conducted to examine the study's hypotheses. The findings revealed that higher levels of acceptance of Eurocentric standards of beauty were associated with lower levels of perceived harm of sexual risk taking variables. However, further analyses revealed that this relationship did not remain significant. Additionally, neither cultural pride reinforcement messages or cultural endorsement of the mainstream messages served as significant moderators in the relationship between colorism and perceived harm of sexual risk taking.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Adolescents, African American women, colorism, racial socialization, sexual risk taking, standards of beauty, African American adolescents
Subjects
African American teenagers $x Attitudes.
Teenage girls $x Sexual behavior $x Attitudes.
Risk-taking (Psychology) in adolescence.
Teenagers $x Sexual behavior.
Unsafe sex.
African American teenagers $x Social conditions.

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