The Importance of Black Father-Son Relationships, Bonding, and Communication on Contributing to HIV Prevention Efforts

Background: The United States (U.S.) federal government has established a goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. Despite reduced HIV incidence in the U.S., Black males are still disproportionately affected by HIV. While literature identifies parent communication as protective mechanism in reducing sexual risk behaviors among youth, less is known about their association with HIV testing. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between Black fathers and son’s relationship, bonding, and communication and HIV testing.

Methods: This secondary data analysis included waves 1 and 3 of the National Longitudinal data from adolescents to adult health in a sample of sexually active Black males (N= 253), mean age of 16 years. The independent variables included: father communication, bonding, and relationships. Dependent variable: HIV testing. A multinomial analysis assessed what factors contributed to or prevented HIV testing.

Results: The overall model was statistically significant F (12, 42) = 7.89, p<.001. Results suggest father-son bonding was statistically significant and negatively associated with HIV testing (B = - .40, p<.01). Father –son communication was statistically significant and positively associated with HIV testing (B= 3.30; p<.05). Black males who reported an increase in father son communication were more likely to get tested for HIV multiple times.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that father-son relationships are important to adolescent male sexual development and serve as a protective factor against threats to sexual health. Future studies should be designed to investigate the cognitive mechanisms through which father-son bonding and communication may impact HIV testing. Moreover, family-based sexual health promotion interventions should take into account the protective effects of healthy father-son bonding and communication on adolescent male sexual health.