Heterosocial Behaviors in Early Adolescent African American Girls: The Role of Mother-Daughter Relationships

Recent epidemiological trends in HIV/AIDS have helped draw attention to minority adolescents as especially high risk for HIV acquisition. Research shows the importance of maternal-child closeness and sexual communication in decreasing adolescent risk behaviors. The information, motivation, behav-ioral skills model (IMB) formed the framework for this pilot study whose pur-pose was to examine the informational and motivational antecedents of heterosocial risks in African American middle-school-aged girls and the maternal influence on these risks. Thirty-nine mother-daughter dyads par-ticipated, of whom 54 % were impoverished. The girls ’ intent to stay safe, per-ceived social norms, and closeness to mother were negatively correlated with reported participation in potentially risky situations. Early interventions may enhance mother-daughter bonding, increasing sexual communication, and decreasing girls ’ participation in risky behaviors. This pilot study pro-vides direction regarding testing of the IMB model in studies focused on early adolescent behaviors and mother-daughter interactions