Exploring Sexual Socialization Among Black Father-Daughter Relationships by Susan Marie ...

153 Pages·2010·0.49 MB·English

Exploring Sexual Socialization Among
Black Father-Daughter Relationships
by
Susan Marie Holmes-Walker

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Nursing)
in The University of Michigan
2010

Doctoral Committee:
Professor Carol J. Loveland-Cherry, Co-Chair
Associate Professor Kristy Kiel Martyn, Co-Chair
Professor Antonia M.Villarruel
Associate Professor Sean Joe
© Susan Marie Holmes-Walker 2010
Dedication
This dissertation is dedicated to my parents,
Mr. Richard L. Holmes Jr. and Mrs. Wanda J. Holmes.
I would like to thank God for blessing me to have them as my parents,
None of this would be possible without their steadfast and loving support
throughout my entire life.

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my husband, Otis Walker, family members, teachers, professors,
friends, classmates, and colleagues who have encouraged me each step of the way.

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Table of Contents
Dedication ii
Acknowledgements iii
List of Appendices vii
Abstract viii
Chapter
I. Introduction 1
Specific Aims/Research Questions 4
Background/Theoretical Perspectives 6
II. Literature Review 11
Parents and Sexual Socialization of Adolescent Daughters 12
Exploring Parental Sexual Communication 13
Parent-Child Interactions and Adolescent Sexual Behavior 19
Fathers and Sexual Socialization of Daughters 23
Black Fathers 23
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Exploring Influence of Black Fathers on their Daughters 27
Exploring Influence and Sexual Communication
with Black Fathers 31
Summary of Literature Review 33
III. Methods 36
Research Design 36
Sample and Setting 38
Demographic Characteristics of the Sample 39
Procedures, Data Collection and Recording 41
Data Analysis 46
Strategies to Enhance Scientific Integrity 48
IV. Results 52
Perceptions of Relationships and Sexual Socialization 56
Influences on Relationships and Sexual Socialization 78
Barriers to Relationships and Sexual Socialization 89
V. Discussion 98
Summary of Results in the Context of the Theoretical Perspectives 99
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Summary of Results in Relation to the Research Questions 100
Limitations 109
Future Implications 110
Conclusions 112
Appendices 114
References 134
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List of Appendices
Appendix
A Participant Recruitment Flyer I/Newspaper Advertisement 115
B Participant Recruitment Flyer II 116
C Phone Script for Potential Participants 117
D Father Consent Form 118
E Daughter Consent Form 122
F Father Background Questionnaire 126
G Daughter Background Questionnaire 127
H Father Semi-Structured Interview Guide 129
I Daughter Semi-Structure Interview Guide 131
J. :List of Community Resources 133
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Abstract
Documented disproportional rates of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted
infections and single-mother headed households in the Black community demand new
perspectives to address existing health disparities. Studies of the Black father’s roles
in the sexual socialization of their daughters are missing from the literature. The
purpose of this study was to explore, through a descriptive qualitative approach,
sexual socialization in the context of Black father-daughter relationships.
Sexual socialization was conceptualized as a combination of communication
about boys and sex, spending time together, and commitment to building
relationships. Specific aims were to: (a) describe the Black father-daughter
relationship from a dyadic perspective; (b) explore fathers’ and daughters’
perceptions of how being Black influenced their relationship; (c) describe what Black
fathers and daughters perceive as the fathers’ influence on the sexual socialization of
the daughters; and (d) describe how environmental factors influence Black fathers’
ability to participate actively in their daughters’ lives. The retrospective qualitative
descriptive study included a purposive convenience sample of 15 Black fathers and
daughters (6 father-daughter dyads and 3 individuals, including resident and non-
resident fathers and a broad range of income levels). Content data analysis revealed
three major categories of the main topics: (a) perceptions of relationships and sexual
socialization: “Little one on one time together and keeping it real”; (b) influences on
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relationships and sexual socialization: “Learning from my mistakes”; and (c) barriers
to relationships and sexual socialization: “Mothers interfered”.
The results revealed that: (a) fathers were caring, concerned and committed to
having good relationships with their daughters; (b) daughters loved their fathers and
wanted more time together; (c) fathers and daughters identified strengths and
challenges in their relationships; and (d) although stereotypes of Black fathers were
identified, fathers and daughters did not view race as a direct cause of specific
challenges in their relationships.
Implications for future research include conducting a similar study with a
diverse sample. The results of this study can inform the development of family-
centered educational programs to improve opportunities and abilities of fathers to
parent their daughters around sexual socialization.
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