ABSTRACT

Sexual empowerment represents an important HIV intervention strategy, yet limited attention has examined the multidimensional nature of sexual empowerment in prior studies. Using a sample (n = 465) of young Black men who have sex with men (MSM), we used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test a multifactorial operationalization of sexual empowerment. CFA indicated that a bifactor model was best suited to characterize the sexual empowerment factor (SEF), suggesting that items for four sub-constructs (self-efficacy to refuse sexual behavior, emotional support, condom use self-efficacy, and social norms on condom use) contributed to their respective constructs, while also contributing to a latent sexual empowerment construct. We then examined the association between SEF and mental health outcomes (anxiety and depression symptoms) and safer sex intentions. SEF was negatively associated with mental health outcomes and positively associated with safer sex intentions. Ultimately, individuals with greater sexual empowerment might be better equipped to develop strategies to buffer their vulnerability to HIV. We discuss the implications of SEF as a bifactor during the design and evaluation of HIV risk-reduction interventions seeking to address sexual empowerment among MSM.

摘要

性授权是一项重要的艾滋病毒干预策略，但是在先前的研究中，对性授权的多维性质进行了有限的关注。我们使用一个样本（n = 465）与男性发生性关系的年轻黑人男性（MSM），我们使用验证性因素分析（CFA）来测试性赋权的多因素操作性。CFA指出，双因素模型最适合描述性能力赋权因子（SEF），建议针对四个子结构的项目（拒绝性行为的自我效能，情感支持，安全套使用自我效能以及安全套的社会规范）使用）有助于他们各自的构造，同时也有助于潜在的性授权构造。然后，我们检查了SEF与心理健康结局（焦虑和抑郁症状）和更安全的性意图之间的关联。SEF与心理健康结果呈负相关，与更安全的性意图呈正相关。最终，具有更强的性能力的个人可能会更有能力制定策略来缓冲他们对HIV的脆弱性。我们讨论了SEF在设计和评估旨在降低MSM中性能力的HIV风险降低干预措施时的双重影响。