Skip to main content
Log in

Sexual Scripts and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Heterosexual Men: Development of the Sexual Scripts Scale

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sexual scripts are widely shared gender and culture-specific guides for sexual behavior with important implications for HIV prevention. Although several qualitative studies document how sexual scripts may influence sexual risk behaviors, quantitative investigations of sexual scripts in the context of sexual risk are rare. This mixed methods study involved the qualitative development and quantitative testing of the Sexual Scripts Scale (SSS). Study 1 included qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 Black heterosexual men about sexual experiences with main and casual sex partners to develop the SSS. Study 2 included a quantitative test of the SSS with 526 predominantly low-income Black heterosexual men. A factor analysis of the SSS resulted in a 34-item, seven-factor solution that explained 68 % of the variance. The subscales and coefficient alphas were: Romantic Intimacy Scripts (α = .86), Condom Scripts (α = .82), Alcohol Scripts (α = .83), Sexual Initiation Scripts (α = .79), Media Sexual Socialization Scripts (α = .84), Marijuana Scripts (α = .85), and Sexual Experimentation Scripts (α = .84). Among men who reported a main partner (n = 401), higher Alcohol Scripts, Media Sexual Socialization Scripts, and Marijuana Scripts scores, and lower Condom Scripts scores were related to more sexual risk behavior. Among men who reported at least one casual partner (n = 238), higher Romantic Intimacy Scripts, Sexual Initiation Scripts, and Media Sexual Socialization Scripts, and lower Condom Scripts scores were related to higher sexual risk. The SSS may have considerable utility for future research on Black heterosexual men’s HIV risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adimora, A. A., & Schoenbach, V. J. (2005). Social context, sexual networks, and racial disparities in rates of sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Infectious Disease, 191, S115–S122. doi:10.1086/425280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adimora, A. A., Schoenbach, V. J., & Doherty, I. A. (2007). Concurrent sexual partnerships among men in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 2230–2237. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.099069.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amaro, H. (1995). Love, sex, and power: Considering women’s realities in HIV prevention. American Psychologist, 50, 437–447. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.50.6.437.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beadnell, B., Baker, S. A., Morrison, D. M., & Knox, K. (2000). HIV/STD risk factors for women with violent male partners. Sex Roles, 42, 661–689. doi:10.1023/A:1007003623810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, S. T., Harvey, S. M., Beckman, L. J., & Johnson, C. H. (2001). Getting your partner to use condoms: Interviews with men and women at risk of HIV/STDs. Journal of Sex Research, 38, 233–240. doi:10.1080/00224490109552092.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowleg, L. (2004). Love, sex, and masculinity in sociocultural context: HIV concerns and condom use among African American men in heterosexual relationships. Men and Masculinities, 7, 166–186. doi:10.1177/1097184X03257523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowleg, L., Lucas, K. J., & Tschann, J. M. (2004). “The ball was always in his court”: An exploratory analysis of relationship scripts, sexual scripts, and condom use among African American women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28, 70–82. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2004.00124.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowleg, L., Malebranche, D. J., & Tschann, J. M. (2011). [Sexual script themes]. Unpublished raw data.

  • Bowleg, L., & Raj, A. (2012). Shared communities, structural contexts, and HIV risk: Prioritizing the HIV risk and prevention needs of Black heterosexual men. American Journal of Public Health, 102, S173–S177. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300342.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowleg, L., Teti, M., King, S., & Massie, J. (2013). “I got a casual [partner] and it’s a baby mama too”: What Black heterosexual men’s experiences with main and casual partners imply for condom use, HIV prevention research, and interventions. Manuscript in preparation.

  • Bowleg, L., Teti, M., Massie, J. S., Patel, A., Malebranche, D. J., & Tschann, J. M. (2011b). ‘What does it take to be a man? What is a real man?’: Ideologies of masculinity and HIV sexual risk among Black heterosexual men. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 13, 545–559. doi:10.1080/13691058.2011.556201.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowleg, L., Valera, P., Teti, M., & Tschann, J. M. (2010). Silences, gestures, and words: Nonverbal and verbal communication about HIV/AIDS and condom use in Black heterosexual relationships. Health Communication, 25, 80–90. doi:10.1080/10410230903474019.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Courville, D. K., & Rojas, M. (2009). Exposure to sexually explicit web sites and adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, 156–162. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.12.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. D., L’Engle, K. L., Pardun, C. J., Guo, G., Kenneavy, K., & Jackson, C. (2006). Sexy media matter: Exposure to sexual content in music, movies, television, and magazines predicts Black and White adolescents’ sexual behavior. Pediatrics, 117, 1018–1027. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1406.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. D., & Witherspoon, E. M. (2002). The mass media and American adolescents’ health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 153–170. doi:10.1016/s1054-139x(02)00507-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C. A. (1995). Male gender roles and sexuality: Implications for women’s AIDS risk and prevention. Social Science and Medicine, 41, 197–210. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)00322-K.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. (1996). National Sexual Health Survey. Retrieved from http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/capsweb/pdfs/NSHS_Quex_English.pdf.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011a). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2009 (Vol. 21). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance/resources/reports/2009report/pdf/2009SurveillanceReport.pdf.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011b). NIA: A program of purpose for African American men. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/prev_prog/rep/packages/nia.htm.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Diagnoses of HIV infection and population among adult and adolescent females, by race/ethnicity, 2010—46 states. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/women/slides/Women.pdf.

  • Corbett, A. M., Dickson-Gomez, J., Hilario, H., & Weeks, M. R. (2009). A little thing called love: Condom use in high-risk primary heterosexual relationships. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 41, 218–224. doi:10.1363/4121809.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

  • Denning, P. H., & DiNenno, E. A. (2010). Communities in crisis: Is there a generalized HIV epidemic in impoverished urban areas of the United States? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/other/poverty.htm.

  • Denning, P. H., DiNenno, E. A., & Wiegand, R. E. (2011). Characteristics associated with HIV Infection among heterosexuals in urban areas with high AIDS prevalence–24 cities, United States, 2006–2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60, 1045–1049.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diekman, A. B., McDonald, M., & Gardner, W. L. (2000). Love means never having to be careful: The relationship between reading romance novels and safe sex behavior. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24, 179–188. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2000.tb00199.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, S. L., Beckford, S., & Ehrhardt, A. (2007). Sexual scripts of women: A longitudinal analysis of participants in a gender-specific HIV/STD prevention intervention. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 269–279. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9092-9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, S. L., & O’Sullivan, L. (2005). Actual versus desired initiation patterns among a sample of college men: Tapping disjunctures within traditional male sexual scripts. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 150–158. doi:10.1080/00224490509552268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edgar, T., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (1993). Expectations for sexual interaction: A cognitive test of the sequencing of sexual communication behaviors. Health Communication, 5, 239–261. doi:10.1207/s15327027hc0504_1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Bassel, N., Witte, S. S., Gilbert, L., Sormanti, M., Moreno, C., Pereira, L., … Steinglass, P. (2001). HIV prevention for intimate couples: A relationship-based model. Families, Systems and Health, 19, 379–395. doi:10.1037/h0089467.

  • Flood, M. (2003). Lust, trust and latex: Why young heterosexual men do not use condoms. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 5, 353–369. doi:10.1080/1369105011000028273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, H., & Kitzinger, C. (2001). Reformulating sexual script theory: Developing a discursive psychology of sexual negotiation. Theory and Psychology, 11, 209–232. doi:10.1177/0959354301112004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frye, V., Ompad, D., Chan, C., Koblin, B. A., Galea, S., & Vlahov, D. (2011). Intimate partner violence perpetration and condom use-related factors: Associations with heterosexual men’s consistent condom use. AIDS and Behavior, 15, 153–162. doi:10.1007/s10461-009-9659-2.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, J. H., & Simon, W. (1973). Sexual conduct: The social sources of human sexuality. Chicago, IL: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, J. H., & Simon, W. (1987). The sexual scripting of oral genital contacts. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 16, 1–25. doi:10.1007/BF01541838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grinstead, O. A., Gregorich, S., Choi, K. H., Coates, T. J., & Voluntary HIV-1 Counselling and Testing Efficacy Study Group. (2001). Positive and negative life events after counselling and testing: The Voluntary HIV-1 Counselling and Testing Efficacy Study. AIDS, 15, 1045–1052.

  • Harvey, S. M., Bird, S. T., Galavotti, C., Duncan, E. A., & Greenberg, D. (2002). Relationship power, sexual decision making and condom use among women at risk for HIV/STDs. Women and Health, 36, 69–84. doi:10.1300/J013v36n04_06.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henny, K. D., Crepaz, N., Lyles, C. M., Marshall, K. J., Aupont, L. W., Jacobs, E. D., … Charania, M. R. (2012). Efficacy of HIV/STI behavioral interventions for heterosexual African American men in the United States: A meta-analysis. AIDS and Behavior, 16, 1092–1114. doi:10.1007/s10461-011-0100-2.

  • Hogben, M., & Williams, S. P. (2001). Exploring the context of women’s relationship perceptions, sexual behavior, and contraceptive strategies. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 13(2), 1–19. doi:10.1300/J056v13n02_01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussen, S., Bowleg, L., Sangaramoorthy, T., & Malebranche, D. J. (2012). Parents, peers and pornography: The influence of formative sexual scripts on adult HIV sexual risk behaviour among Black men. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 14, 863–877. doi:10.1080/13691058.2012.703327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hynie, M., Lydon, J. E., Cote, S., & Wiener, S. (1998). Relational sexual scripts and women’s condom use: The importance of internalized norms. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 370–380. doi:10.1080/00224499809551955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R., & Oliver, M. (2007). Young urban women’s patterns of unprotected sex with men engaging in HIV risk behaviors. AIDS and Behavior, 11, 812–821. doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9194-3.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., Cherry, C., & Browne-Sperling, F. (1999). Effectiveness of a video-based motivational skills-building HIV risk-reduction intervention for inner-city African American men. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 959–966. doi:http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/ccp/index.aspx.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. A., & Kalichman, S. C. (1995). Increased attention to human sexuality can improve HIV-AIDS prevention efforts: Key research issues and directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 907–918. doi:http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/ccp/index.aspx.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ku, L., Sonenstein, F. L., & Pleck, J. H. (1993). Young men’s risk behaviors for HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases, 1988 through 1991. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1609–1615.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, B. (1997). Part 2: Pornography: Attitudes and use. In B. Lewin (Ed.), Sex in Sweden: On the Swedish sexual life (pp. 252–263). Stockholm: National Institute of Public Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKellar, D., Valleroy, L., Karon, J., Lemp, G., & Janssen, R. (1996). The Young Men’s Survey: Methods for estimating HIV seroprevalence and risk factors among young men who have sex with men. Public Health Reports, 111(S1), 138–144.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Massie, J., Cole, R., Teti, M., Tschann, J. M., Malebranche, D., & Bowleg, L. (2011). The quandary in using venue-time-based sampling for recruiting a Black heterosexual men for HIV prevention research. Paper presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference, Atlanta, GA.

  • Masters, N. T., Casey, E., Wells, E. A., & Morrison, D. M. (2012). Sexual scripts among young heterosexually active men and women: Continuity and change. Journal of Sex Research, 50, 409–420. doi:10.1080/00224499.2012.661102.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L. C., Bettencourt, B. A., DeBro, S. C., & Hoffman, V. (1993). Negotiating safer sex: Interpersonal dynamics. In J. B. Pryor & G. D. Reeder (Eds.), The social psychology of HIV infection (pp. 85–123). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noar, S. M. (2008). Behavioral interventions to reduce HIV-related sexual risk behavior: Review and synthesis of meta-analytic evidence. AIDS and Behavior, 12, 335–353. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9313-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noar, S. M., Carlyle, K., & Cole, C. (2006). Why communication is crucial: Meta-analysis of the relationship between safer sexual communication and condom use. Journal of Health Communication, 11, 365–390. doi:10.1080/10810730600671862.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noar, S. M., & Edgar, T. (2008). The role of partner communication in safer sexual behavior: A theoretical and empirical review. In T. Edgar, S. M. Noar & V. Freimuth (Eds.), Communication perspectives on HIV/AIDS for the 21st century (pp. 3–28). New York, NY: Routledge.

  • Noar, S. M., Webb, E., Van Stee, S., Feist-Price, S., Crosby, R., Willoughby, J. F., et al. (2012). Sexual partnerships, risk behaviors, and condom use among low-income heterosexual African Americans: A qualitative study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 959–970. doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9890-6.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noar, S. M., Zimmerman, R. S., & Atwood, K. A. (2004). Safer sex and sexually transmitted infections from a relationship perspective. In J. H. Harvey, A. Wenzel, & S. Sprecher (Eds.), The handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 519–544). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz-Torres, B., Williams, S. P., & Ehrhardt, A. A. (2003). Urban women’s gender scripts: Implications for HIV prevention. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 5, 1–17. doi:10.1080/713804639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paranjape, A., Bernstein, L., George, D. M. S., Doyle, J., Henderson, S., & Corbie-Smit, G. (2006). Effect of relationship factors on safer sex decisions in older inner-city women. Journal of Women’s Health, 15, 90–97. doi:10.1089/jwh.2006.15.90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, J. T., Vicioso, K. J., Punzalan, J. C., Halkitis, P. N., Kutnick, A., & Velasquez, M. M. (2004). The impact of alcohol use on the sexual scripts of HIV-positive men who have sex with men. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 160–172. doi:10.1080/00224490409552224.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philadelphia Department of Public Health, & AIDS Activities Coordinating Office. (2011). [African American males 2009]. Unpublished raw data.

  • Pleck, J. H., Sonenstein, F. L., & Ku, L. C. (1993). Masculinity ideology: Its impact on adolescent males’ heterosexual relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 49, 11–29. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1993.tb01166.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Primack, B. A., Gold, M. A., Schwarz, E. B., & Dalton, M. A. (2008). Degrading and non-degrading sex in popular music: A content analysis. Public Health Reports, 123, 593–600.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raj, A., Reed, E., Santana, M. C., Walley, A. Y., Welles, S. L., Horsburgh, C. R., … Silverman, J. G. (2009). The associations of binge alcohol use with HIV/STI risk and diagnosis among heterosexual African American men. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 101, 101–106. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.11.008.

  • Reid, P. T. (2000). Women, ethnicity, and AIDS: What’s love got to do with it? Sex Roles, 42, 709–722. doi:10.1023/A:1007007724719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, L. (2009). Handling qualitative data: A practical guide (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosser, B., Grey, J., Wilkerson, J., Iantaffi, A., Brady, S., Smolenski, D., et al. (2012). A commentary on the role of sexually explicit media (SEM) in the transmission and prevention of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM). AIDS and Behavior, 16, 1373–1381. doi:10.1007/s10461-012-0135-z.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seal, D. W., & Ehrhardt, A. A. (2003). Masculinity and urban men: Perceived scripts for courtship, romantic, and sexual interactions with women. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 5, 295–319. doi:10.1080/136910501171698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seal, D. W., & Ehrhardt, A. A. (2004). HIV-prevention-related sexual health promotion for heterosexual men in the United States: Pitfalls and recommendations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33, 211–222. doi:10.1023/B:ASEB.0000026621.21559.cf.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seal, D. W., Smith, M., Coley, B., Perry, J., & Gamez, M. (2008). Urban heterosexual couples’ sexual scripts for three shared sexual experiences. Sex Roles, 58, 626–638. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9369-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran, P., Abraham, C., & Orbell, S. (1999). Psychosocial correlates of heterosexual condom use: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 90–132. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.1.90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, W., & Gagnon, J. H. (1984). Sexual scripts. Society, 22, 53–60. doi:10.1007/BF02701260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, W., & Gagnon, J. H. (1986). Sexual scripts: Permanence and change. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 15, 97–120. doi:10.1007/BF01542219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, W., & Gagnon, J. H. (Eds.). (1987). A sexual scripts approach. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, D. P., & Few, A. (2007). Hip hop honey or video ho: African American preadolescents’ understanding of female sexual scripts in hip hop culture. Sexuality and Culture, 11, 48–69. doi:10.1007/s12119-007-9012-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, C. E. (2007). Representin’ in cyberspace: Sexual scripts, self-definition, and hip hop culture in Black American adolescent girls’ home pages. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 9, 169–184. doi:10.1080/13691050601017512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, J. S., Elliott, M. N., Wenzel, S. L., & Hambarsoomian, K. (2007). Relationship commitment and its implications for unprotected sex among impoverished women living in shelters and low-income housing in Los Angeles County. Health Psychology, 26, 644–649. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.26.5.644.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, L. M., Hansbrough, E., & Walker, E. (2005). Contributions of music video exposure to Black adolescents’ gender and sexual schemas. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20, 143–166. doi:10.1177/0743558404271135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Child Health and Development (Grant R01 HD054319-01) award to Lisa Bowleg. We are especially grateful to the men who participated in all phases of the research. Their participation is invaluable to this work. We also wish to thank Jenné Massie, M.S., the study’s project director and are grateful to our recruiters and our research assistants (Chioma Azi, Sheba King, Ashley Martin, and Richa Ranade) for their tireless dedication to the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa Bowleg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bowleg, L., Burkholder, G.J., Noar, S.M. et al. Sexual Scripts and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Heterosexual Men: Development of the Sexual Scripts Scale. Arch Sex Behav 44, 639–654 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0193-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0193-y

Keywords

Navigation