The changing ties that bind - Issues surrounding sexuality and health for Greek parents and their Australian-born sons and daughters

This article examines the changing nature of family values and expectations in relation to sexuality gender roles, and health among Greek parents and their young adult sons and daughters living in Melbourne, Australia. Findin gs are reported from a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with 37 young adult Greek Australian men and women and 7 Greek parents as well as four focus group discussions with 25 parents, Key themes are compared in relation to the tensions relating to changing gender roles and expectation s within the family and Greek community. Although these tensions can act as barriers to effective prevention strategies for young second-generation cr eek adults, parents acknowledge the need for change to protect their childr en from HIV/AIDS and STDs. The results support the need for prevention stra tegies for STDs and HIV/AIDS that build on the importance of close family c onnections and deal with the tensions surrounding the changing ties that bi nd.