Sexual risk behaviors in African American and Puerto Rican women: Impulsivity and self-control

Millions of people are living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). African American and Hispanic/Latino communities suffer the most severe burden of HIV in the US. The ultimate goal of this study was to better understand risk factors for this infection: Do impulsivity and self control operate independently or synergistically with respect to HIV sexual risk behaviors in women? An enhanced understanding of these risk factors may better inform future interventions. Among the total of 343 female participants, half were African American and the other half were Latina. Data in this study were collected in the area of New York City during 2014-2016, when the mean age of the participants was 39 years. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations of impulsivity and self control with HIV sexual risk behaviors. Impulsivity and self control were independently associated with most of the HIV sexual risk behaviors examined. In addition, the interaction terms between impulsivity and low self control were all significantly associated with each of the sexual risk behaviors. Prevention programs should consider incorporating the roles of impulsivity and self control simultaneously as related to HIV risk behaviors.