Intimate Risk

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand and describe the influences associated with sexual risk-taking among African American college women. The study participants included 15 African American women aged 19 to 33 attending a 4-year university in Southeast, Texas. Each of the women self-identified as having engaged in sexual intercourse with at least one male partner within the past year. Data were gathered using semistructured in-depth interviews, each lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Analysis of the interviews revealed that women base their sexual risk-taking behavior on the level of intimacy sought or expected from their partner. The desire to engage in a long-term relationship was also indicative of participating in risky sexual behavior. The implications for intervention programs that are targeted at minimizing sexual risk-taking behavior are discussed in light of these findings.