Date of Award

8-30-2022

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Ling Shi

Second Advisor

Teri Aronowitz

Third Advisor

Jacqueline Fawcett

Abstract

The Asian American (AA) population is the largest growing minority group in the United States. The increased HIV seroconversion and sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in AAs are a concern. Despite AA emerging adults being at an increased risk for STIs, they believe they are at low sexual risk due to a social stereotype that they are a model minority practicing positive sexual health behavior. Open discussion about sexual health is taboo in Asian culture. The different levels of intergenerational acculturation among AA families create a barrier to open sexual communication.

This dissertation aimed to contribute to the research conducted among AA emerging adults with three publications. First, a health policy analysis examined historical, socio-cultural, and political perspectives influencing HIV seroconversion data collection among AAs in the United States. The findings highlighted the importance of disaggregated data of AA subgroups in federal- and state-level HIV data. Advocating policymakers to increase funding for disaggregated data collection and research in AAs is crucial for future research.

Second, a qualitative cognitive interviewing study reviewed with AA emerging adult women two Asian acculturation measurements. Findings revealed that none of the reviewed acculturation measurements included all five measurement components from the Berry Acculturation Model. Future research should include the development of a theory-driven Asian acculturation measurement composed of all five measurement components.

Last, the third study was a quantitative cross-sectional study that examined the relationship between maternal authoritative parenting style (MAPS), mother-daughter sexual communication (MDSC), acculturation, and sexual risk behavior among AA young adult women. Acculturation was the only variable associated with early sexual initiation in AA young adult women. The exploratory was used for the revised study purpose due to the low sexual risk sample group. Future research should investigate the culturally approached definition of sexual risk behavior in AAs. The concept of MDSC should also explore a qualitative narrative of the timing and context of MDSC in AA families. In summary, this dissertation draws attention to the influence of Asian families’ cultural views and acculturation on the sexual health of AA emerging adults to provide implications for nursing practice and health policy.

Comments

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