3134.1: Monday, October 22, 2001 - Table 10

Abstract #20283

High self-esteem is associated with more favorable predispositions to sexual protective behavior among low-income African American adolescent females

Richard A Crosby, PhD1, Ralph J DiClemente, PhD1, Gina M Wingood, ScD, MPH1, Adrian Liau, PhD2, Kim M Williams, PhD, MSW2, Kathleen F Harrington, MAEd, MPH3, Susan Davies, PhD4, and Donna Hubbard McCree, PhD2. (1) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, fifth floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, 770 982 7527, rcrosby@sph.emory.edu, (2) Rollins School of Public Health Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, (3) Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1666 University Blvd, Suite 237, Birmingham, AL 35244, (4) Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 Unversity Blvd., Suite 410, Birmingham, AL 35294

Objective: This study of 515 African-American adolescent females, ages 14-18, investigated the association between adolescents' high self-esteem and measures that predispose females to safer sex behaviors. Methods: Sexually active females were recruited from schools and adolescent medicine clinics in low-income neighborhoods. Adolescents completed a self-administered survey and face-to-face interview. A 10-item scale assessed self-esteem (a=.79). Adolescents' scores on this measure were dichotomized by median split. Measures of personal and partner-related barriers to condom use were also assessed. Logistic regression was used to calculate age-adjusted odds ratios (AOR), their 95% confidence intervals, and corresponding P-values. Results: Compared to those with low self-esteem, adolescents with high self-esteem were more likely to report favorable attitudes toward condom use (AOR=3.01, P=.0001) and more likely to report frequent communication with their partners about safer sex (AOR=1.96, P=.0002) as well as their parents (AOR=1.80, P=.001). High self-esteem was also associated with greater confidence to negotiate condom use (AOR=2.73, P=.0001), achieving a perfect score on the a demonstrated measure of condom application skills (AOR=1.53, P=.04), greater odds of reporting low partner-related barriers to condom use (AOR=2.77, P=.0001), and less fear of condom negotiation (AOR=2.73, P=.0001). Adolescents' with high self-esteem reported fewer overall barriers to condom use (AOR=2.88, P=.0001). High self-esteem was also associated with having female peers who generally used condoms (AOR=1.44, P=.04) and with greater odds of refusing unwanted sex (AOR=2.31, P=.0006). Discussion: High self-esteem may favorably predispose adolescent females to adopt and maintain sexual practices that are protective of STD/HIV infection and pregnancy.

Learning Objectives: Audience members will be able to identify and explain the importance of the observed outcomes related to adolescents females' high self-esteem.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA