Study Investigates Relationship Perceptions Among African-American Youth

UA undergraduate researcher Beatrice Abiero

In studying youth perceptions of romantic relationships, Beatrice Abiero's survey sample included more than 2,300 individuals.


By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications December 14, 2009

The existent literature about African-American youth and their relationships has tended to focus on sexual activity, instances of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

University of Arizona undergraduate researcher Beatrice Abiero said this as problematic, stating that researchers often fail to investigate perceptions associated with romantic relationships, particularly among African-American youth.

"Positive as well as negative views about romantic relationships exist," said Abiero, a student in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

"However, research has typically neglected examining the root cause and implications of romantic perceptions among African-American adolescents," she added.

Through an internship with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Abiero was encouraged to develop her own study based on the Mobile Youth Survey data set, a longitudinal study focusing on African-American youth that includes more than 400 questions.

Abiero opted to examine the romantic perceptions of more than 2,300 African-Americans, ages 9 to 19, living in high poverty neighborhoods in Mobile, Ala.

For her project, "Perceptions of Romantic Relationships and Self Worth Among Low Income Urban African-American Adolescents-Findings From the Mobile Youth Survey," Abiero investigated how self-expression and also feelings of self-worth and hopelessness relate to how youth view themselves. She also studied how the youth perceived their romantic partners.

The project earned her a second place award in 2009 in the Graduate and Professional Student Council's Student Showcase. She also won a first place award during last year's showcase.

Also, Abiero has presented her research in several other forums, including an oral presentation during a scientific session at the American Public Health Association's annual conference held last month in Philadelphia.

As part of her research, Abiero found that younger participants who had little or no experience with romantic relationships and no one to talk to when worried held more positive believes about romantic relationship.

"My view is that for the younger kids who do not have anyone to talk to when they are worried [then] a relationship is a positive way of expressing their worries," Abiero said.

During her research, she received support from John Bolland and Brad Lian, principal investigators, researchers and professors at the University of Alabama. She was also assisted by fellow intern Chris Lum of San jose State University.

"Overall, there was a negative relationship between age and positive romantic perceptions. This means that as the participants aged, they held more negative romantic relationship views," Abiero said, noting that the negative views were self-directed and also directed toward romantic partners.

"Perhaps, this may be attributed to more dating experience as people get older," she added.

She also found that maternal attachment had no effect on the participants' relationship perceptions.

"This was especially surprising considering that most literature emphasizes maternal attachment as a significant predictor of development of romantic perceptions," she said.

She also found that girls who were in exclusive relationships held more positive views of romantic relationships than did boys.

Abiero said that while additional research is necessary, her early findings carry implications for teachers and health professionals, particularly those in the public health.

"Because this study highlights the importance of communication, social support and self-esteem, we need to include parents, teachers and other community members in developing comprehensive prevention programming that focus on effective coping and communication skills," she said. "It just boils down to teaching youth how to build and maintain successful relationships."

Abiero, who said she may return to Alabama during the summer to continue her research, said her findings indicate that showing youth how to develop and maintain stable relationships carries multiple benefits.

"Having positive views about relationships," she said, "can lead to improved communication skills and self-esteem, decreased aggression, dating violence, and risky sexual behavior."