Influential Factors of Puerto Rican Mother–Child Communication About Sexual Health Topics

Abstract

Introduction Latina mothers play a central role in raising and socializing their children; however, few studies have examined the cultural, socio-cognitive and neighborhood-related variables influencing the level of communication between Puerto Rican mothers and their children about sexuality and sexual health. This cross-sectional study sought to examine these influences. Methods Puerto Rican mothers with children aged 10–19 years (n = 193) were selected randomly for an ethnographic interview as part of a community participatory action research project in a U.S. urban northeastern community. Results Bivariate analyses found statistically significant associations between the child’s age (p = 0.002), the mother’s past communication about traditional gender role norms of women (marianismo) (p < 0.001), her positive outcome expectations for communications with her child (p < 0.025), and her perceptions of the physical condition (p < 0.001) and sexual health problems (p = 0.047) in the neighborhood. In a multivariate model, all of these variables remained significant except sexual health problems, and mother’s attitudes toward the obligations of children to parents (familismo) emerged as a factor associated with a decrease in the number of sexual health topics that mothers raised with their children. No significant effects were found for mother’s spiritual and religious experience (religiosidad). Discussion Our study highlights the importance of marianismo as a framework within which Puerto Rican mothers communicate sexual health information as well as the need to improve mothers’ confidence discussing sexual health issues with their children. Future public health interventions to promote communication about sexuality and sexual health among Puerto Rican mothers should consider addressing this issue as a part of comprehensive neighborhood improvement projects.

Cultural Influences on Hispanic Mother–Daughter Communication About Sex

“…Colon-Lopez et al (2017) found that marianismo limited communication about sex between mothers and daughters in Puerto Rico. In contrast, Torres et al (2016) found that stronger marianismo beliefs predicted more communication with children about sexual health topics by mothers of Puerto Rican families in Boston. Among El Salvadorian immigrant mothers and their daughters in Canada, some held the marianismo -related belief of maintaining virginity until marriage while all embraced the importance of chastity and purity (Carranza, 2012).…”

Exploring Genetic Numeracy Skills in a Sample of U.S. University Students

“…Recent research, for instance, highlights the influence of peers and various social norming agents (e.g., friends, relatives, physicians, and other health-care providers) on a person’s risk perceptions and on his/her general or genetics-related decision-making ( 31 , 32 ). Peer influence, in particular, is more pronounced in the adolescent and young adult years ( 33 ) in part due to neurological changes in the risk–reward structures of the brain ( 26 , 34 ). In our sample, the average age of respondents was 23 years.…”

“…To eliminate these inconsistencies, we computed in the GN composite score only answers to the question scenarios mentioning the mother (i.e., the risk of inheriting a genetic illness from the mother). We operated under the assumption that these responses would be more valid than responses to scenarios involving other degrees of kinship because research has shown both men and women have closer relationships with their mothers than their fathers ( 25 ), translating into greater communication between mothers and children about health risks and potentially more accurate knowledge of risk probabilities ( 26 , 27 ).…”

Social Capital Accumulation among Puerto Rican Mothers in Urban Neighborhoods

“…Data used to test hypotheses about SKA are from an intervention study to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based culturally appropriate Spanish media campaign to improve Puerto Rican mother-child communication about sexual health [41]. Social capital was hypothesized to be a predictor of maternal communication, and questions about social capital were included in the survey instrument.…”