The impact of hair texture and skin color among African American men and women during mate selection on the expression of risky sexual behaviors (Immune deficiency)

This study was one of the first research efforts to collect data on the impact of hair texture and skin color on the expression of risky sexual behavior and HIV communications among heterosexual African-American singles. Participants were recruited by the researcher going to various airports around the country and sampling both males and females departing and arriving on flights at the airports. The sample consisted of 250 African-American heterosexual singles, (125 males, 125 females) and their mean age was 28.6 years. Their mean number of years of formal education completed was at a point of completion of college, with a mean annual income between {dollar}26,000--{dollar}30,999. Their parents mean annual income level during their childhood was between {dollar}31,000--{dollar}35,999. Their occupational status was the category of skilled laborer/employee. Their current relationship status was between the categories of cohabiting and single. The majority of the sample (40%) spent most of their childhood on the west coast. They considered themselves to be African-looking (73.6%). Only respondents who self-identified as "exclusively heterosexual" were included in this sample.; Simultaneous multiple linear regression analyses were generated to determine if external, constitutional and or demographic characteristics were potent mediating variables in predicting the expression of risky sexual behavior and HIV communications for African-American males and females separately. The following hypotheses were found to be significant: (1) that demographic characteristics were significant predictors of HIV communications for females; (2) that external characteristics were significant predictors of risky sexual behavior for males; (3) that constitutional characteristics were significant predictors of HIV communications for males and females. These findings suggest that conscious as well as unconscious factors influence sexual decision-making and need to be assessed simultaneously. This study supports previous research by enhancing the conceptualization of the problem, and identifying additional areas of inquiry and focus. This study suggests to practitioners that the problem of the expression of risky sexual behaviors and the lack of HIV communications is more complex than has been presented by other researchers. Further research should employ measures that allow for the assessment of historical and cohort influences, while sampling from a more broad group of African-Americans.