Living With Maternal HIV: Spirituality, Depression, And Family Functioning

Risk factors such as depression and low SES often affect an HIV infected mother’s ability to function within her family. Spirituality may interact with such risk factors contributing to the resiliency of these mothers. The current study explored spirituality’s influence on the relationship between depression and perceptions of family functioning in African American women living with HIV. High levels of spirituality were associated with decreased psychological distress and spirituality served as a significant predictor of family cohesion. Findings from this study support the importance of spirituality in the lives of African American women living with HIV and their families

Dimensions of ethnic identity as protective factors for substance use and sexual risk behaviors in African American college students

ObjectiveTo examine ethnic identity and ethnic socialization as potential protective factors for risk behaviors among US college students.ParticipantsParticipants were 398 African American and Afro-Caribbean students recruited from 30 colleges and universities during September 2008-October 2009.MethodsData on hazardous alcohol use, substance use, sexual behaviors, ethnic identity, and ethnic/racial socialization were collected. Hierarchical linear and negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to determine the degree to which ethnic identity and ethnic/racial socialization predicted the risk behaviors.ResultsEthnic Identity affirmation, belonging, and commitment (EI-ABC) significantly predicted lower substance use and hazardous alcohol use. Ethnic/racial socialization was not a significant predictor of substance use or sexual risk behaviors.ConclusionsComponents of ethnic identity are potentially protective against alcohol and substance use behaviors. Additional research is recommended to determine effective intervention strategies