African American adolescents and new media: associations with HIV/STI risk behavior and psychosocial variables.
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Date
2011-07-13
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cell phones and online media are used frequently but we know little about their use among African American adolescents This study examines the frequency of such use and its relationship to psychosocial variables and STI HIV risk behavior SETTING PARTICIPANTS 1 518 African American aged 13 18 years from 2 Northeast US cities Providence RI Syracuse NY and 2 Southeast US cities Columbia SC Macon GA were assessed from 2008 2009 DESIGN Participants were assessed on frequency of cell phone and Internet use psychological constructs ie depression life satisfaction impulsivity and HIV STI risk behaviors ie history of intercourse sexual sensation seeking attitudes peer sexual risks norms with reliable scales and measures using an audio computer assisted self interview RESULTS Over 90 of African American adolescents used cell phones every day or most days and 60 used social networking sites every day or most days 96 used Myspace Greater frequency of cell phone use was associated with sexual sensation seeking P 000 riskier peer sexual norms P 000 and impulsivity P 016 Greater frequency of Internet use was associated with a history of oral vaginal anal sex OR 1 03 CI 1 0 1 05 and sexual sensation seeking P 000 CONCLUSION These findings suggest that riskier youth are online and using cell phones frequently The Internet and cell phones may be useful platforms for targeted health promotion and prevention efforts with AA adolescents
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Keywords
Young people (10-24 years), At risk for a particular disease or infection, Client, Lack of population enumeration, Addressing individual beliefs and practices, STIs, excluding HIV, HIV/AIDS, Mental health, Preventive, Health education or promotion, Voice, SMS, Internet, Text, Audio, Chat / Discussion Community