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Condoms and Connection: Parents, Gay and Bisexual Youth, and HIV Risk
Author(s) -
LaSala Michael C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/jmft.12088
Subject(s) - closeness , psychology , thematic analysis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , developmental psychology , homosexuality , qualitative research , social psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , family medicine , sociology , mathematical analysis , social science , mathematics , psychoanalysis
The family has long been considered a powerful influence on youth's high‐risk behaviors. However, little is known about preventive family influences for gay and bisexual youth, a group at high risk for HIV infection. For this study, qualitative interviews from a sample of 38 gay and bisexual youth and their parents/guardians underwent a thematic analysis. Youth described parent–child closeness, parental warnings, and urgings to use condoms as influences. Youth denying family influence came from families in which parent–child relationships were disrupted or HIV ‐related discussion was lacking. Most families reported discomfort discussing HIV risk. These findings, along with a case example, suggest how family therapists can enhance parental influence by helping these families strengthen their relationships and discuss this important topic. Video Abstract