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Influential Factors of Puerto Rican Mother–Child Communication About Sexual Health Topics

Maternal and Child Health Journal volume 20, pages 2280–2290 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction Latina mothers play a central role in raising and socializing their children; however, few studies have examined the cultural, socio-cognitive and neighborhood-related variables influencing the level of communication between Puerto Rican mothers and their children about sexuality and sexual health. This cross-sectional study sought to examine these influences. Methods Puerto Rican mothers with children aged 10–19 years (n = 193) were selected randomly for an ethnographic interview as part of a community participatory action research project in a U.S. urban northeastern community. Results Bivariate analyses found statistically significant associations between the child’s age (p = 0.002), the mother’s past communication about traditional gender role norms of women (marianismo) (p < 0.001), her positive outcome expectations for communications with her child (p < 0.025), and her perceptions of the physical condition (p < 0.001) and sexual health problems (p = 0.047) in the neighborhood. In a multivariate model, all of these variables remained significant except sexual health problems, and mother’s attitudes toward the obligations of children to parents (familismo) emerged as a factor associated with a decrease in the number of sexual health topics that mothers raised with their children. No significant effects were found for mother’s spiritual and religious experience (religiosidad). Discussion Our study highlights the importance of marianismo as a framework within which Puerto Rican mothers communicate sexual health information as well as the need to improve mothers’ confidence discussing sexual health issues with their children. Future public health interventions to promote communication about sexuality and sexual health among Puerto Rican mothers should consider addressing this issue as a part of comprehensive neighborhood improvement projects.

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Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Minority Health And Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P60MD006912. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Inc. Community Advisory Committee, and contribution of the undergraduate students in the Latino Leadership Opportunity Program of the University of Massachusetts Boston in the implementation of the Por Ahí Dicen project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Maria Idalí Torres

  2. Department of Economics, The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Phillip Granberry

  3. Department of Quantitative Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Worcester, MA, USA

    Sharina Person & Jeroan Allison

  4. Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Worcester, MA, USA

    Milagros Rosal

  5. The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Sarah Rustan

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  1. Maria Idalí Torres
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Correspondence to Maria Idalí Torres.

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Torres, M.I., Granberry, P., Person, S. et al. Influential Factors of Puerto Rican Mother–Child Communication About Sexual Health Topics. Matern Child Health J 20, 2280–2290 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2041-x

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