Family connectedness and women's sexual risk behaviors: Implications for the prevention/intervention of STD/HIV infection

The present study explores the relationship between connectedness with the intergenerational family and women's sexual risk-taking as a guide to the d evelopment of family-focused prevention and intervention. Cross-sectional i nterview data front a pilot study were analyzed for correlations between a number of self-reported, risky sexual practices, the range of extended fami ly members with whom the respondent was in contact, and awareness of storie s pertaining to intergenerational family history. Structured interviews wer e administered by female interviewers to 56 women from two contexts: a STD (sexually transmitted disease) Clinic (N = 26), and art inner-city, Hispani c Community Organization (N = 30). Knowledge of stories about grandparents or great-grandparents was a robust predictor of bower sexual risk-taking in the STD Clin ic sample. Th is relationship persisted, but only at the tren d level in the Community Organization sample. In both the total sample and the STD subsample, the number of categories of extended family members with whom a respondent was in at least monthly contact was correlated with less sexual risk-taking. Given the fundamental importance of the family system as the primary social unit, these findings argue for further family theory- based research and for its potential application in the development of heal th prevention and intervention. Implications for practice and future resear ch are discussed.