TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual communication among young adult heterosexual latinos
T2 - A qualitative descriptive study
AU - Alvarez, Carmen Paula
AU - Villarruel, Antonia
PY - 2013/9/9
Y1 - 2013/9/9
N2 - Sexual communication between sexual partners is an important component in prevention efforts against unintended consequences of sex. The purpose of this study was to describe sexual communication among young adult Latinos. Four semistructured, sex-segregated focus groups were used for this study. Participants (N 5 20) were 18-30 years old self-identified Latinos who were in heterosexual and sexually active relationships (more than 3 months). Participants revealed that initial sexual communication with their partners was avoided related to a lack of interest in a partner's sexual history, feeling embarrassed about the topic, or concern for offending one's partner or partner's family. As a result of these beliefs and attitudes, initial sexual communication was nonverbal and focused on sexual pleasure. After the initiation of sexual activity, verbal sexual communication expanded to include sexual history. These findings highlight the importance of attitudes and subjective norms toward verbal sexual communication. Attitudes and subjective norms toward sexual communication in the context of a romantic relationship and how it may impact sexual behavior in the relationship should be further explored.
AB - Sexual communication between sexual partners is an important component in prevention efforts against unintended consequences of sex. The purpose of this study was to describe sexual communication among young adult Latinos. Four semistructured, sex-segregated focus groups were used for this study. Participants (N 5 20) were 18-30 years old self-identified Latinos who were in heterosexual and sexually active relationships (more than 3 months). Participants revealed that initial sexual communication with their partners was avoided related to a lack of interest in a partner's sexual history, feeling embarrassed about the topic, or concern for offending one's partner or partner's family. As a result of these beliefs and attitudes, initial sexual communication was nonverbal and focused on sexual pleasure. After the initiation of sexual activity, verbal sexual communication expanded to include sexual history. These findings highlight the importance of attitudes and subjective norms toward verbal sexual communication. Attitudes and subjective norms toward sexual communication in the context of a romantic relationship and how it may impact sexual behavior in the relationship should be further explored.
KW - Barriers
KW - Facilitators
KW - Latinos
KW - Sexual communication
KW - Young adults
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84883392461&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84883392461&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1891/1540-4153.11.3.101
DO - 10.1891/1540-4153.11.3.101
M3 - Article
C2 - 24830911
AN - SCOPUS:84883392461
SN - 1540-4153
VL - 11
SP - 101
EP - 110
JO - Hispanic Health Care International
JF - Hispanic Health Care International
IS - 3
ER -