Values that Fathers Communicate to Sons about Sex, Sexuality, Relationships, and Marriage

African American males between ages 13 and 24 are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS; indeed, they account for 50% of HIV infections among all youth. Clear communication between parents a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social work in public health 2017-01, Vol.32 (5), p.355-368
Main Authors: Coakley, Tanya M., Randolph, Schenita D., Shears, Jeffrey, Collins, Patrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abstinence
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Adolescent
Adolescent parents
Adult
African Americans
AIDS
Celibacy
Child
Communication
Courtship
Father-Child Relations
father-son communication
Fathers
Focus Groups
Health administration
Health risks
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Marriage
Middle Aged
minority health disparities
Nuclear Family
Parent-child relations
Parents & parenting
Public health
Qualitative Research
Risk
Rural communities
Sexual Behavior
Sexual health
Sexual intercourse
Sexuality
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social work
STD
Teenage parents
Unwanted pregnancy
Values
Youth
Youth HIV Prevention
youth sexual health
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Summary:African American males between ages 13 and 24 are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS; indeed, they account for 50% of HIV infections among all youth. Clear communication between parents and their youth about sex is associated with higher rates of sexual abstinence, condom use, and intent to delay initiation of sexual intercourse, which can prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy. However, barriers exist for parents to educate their youth about sexual health. The purpose of this article is to explore the values fathers communicate to their sons to prevent their risky sexual behaviors that lead to STIs, HIV, and adolescent parenthood. This was a qualitative study conducted from May and June 2015. African American fathers (N = 29) who had sons, ages 10 to 15 years, participated in five focus groups across metropolitan and rural North Carolina communities in barbershops. A qualitative content analysis revealed four themes regarding areas that fathers imparted their values onto their sons to protect them from sexual health risks: (a) sex, (b) sexuality, (c) relationships, and (d) marriage. The findings have implications for social work and public health practice.
ISSN:1937-1918
1937-190X
DOI:10.1080/19371918.2017.1304311