PURPOSE: Latino and Black adolescent males experience sexual health inequities, and their engagement in sexual health services remains low. Parents shape adolescent sexual health behavior and other youth outcomes. However, the role of Latino and Black fathers in promoting male adolescent sexual health is understudied, in part because about one in four fathers resides apart from their children and nonresident fathers are presumed to be less influential. We examined associations of paternal communication with sexual health service use and perceived paternal role modeling among Latino and Black adolescent males with resident and nonresident fathers.
METHODS: We recruited 191 Latino and Black adolescent males aged 15–19 years and their fathers in the South Bronx, New York City, using area sampling methods; dyads completed surveys. We estimated bivariate and adjusted associations of paternal communication with adolescent male sexual health service use and perceived paternal role modeling using logistic and linear regressions. Effect measure modification by paternal residence was assessed.
RESULTS: A unit increase on a five-point paternal communication scale was associated with approximately twice and 1.7 times the likelihood of clinical sexual health service use during adolescent males’ lifetime and in the past 3 months, respectively; there was no significant effect measure modification by paternal residence. Paternal communication was associated with increased levels of perceived paternal role modeling and usefulness of paternal advice, with stronger associations for nonresident fathers.
DISCUSSION: Both resident and nonresident Latino and Black fathers warrant greater consideration as partners in promoting male adolescent sexual health service use.
Paternal communication and sexual health clinic visits among Latino and Black adolescent males with resident and nonresident fathers
Journal of Adolescent Health, 73 (3), 567-573. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.04.024.