Claudia Mitchell-Kernan

New trends in black American interracial marriage: the social structural context.

This study addresses the underlying demographic correlates of interracial marriage as distinct among black women and men in a western [U.S.] location. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the structural correlates were nearly identical for men and women: the interracially married tended to be younger more likely to have been married before and more distant in age from their spouses....Furthermore persons born in the North...and in foreign countries were more likely to be married to nonblacks which seemingly indicates that moves away from communities of origin to environments that are relatively tolerant regarding race facilitate interracial marriage. Findings are interpreted as indicative of the strength of social control in mate selection. (EXCERPT)

ETHNIC VARIATIONS IN PERCEPTIONS OF MEN'S PROVIDER ROLE

Relatively little research has examined current perceptions of mens provider role in light of widespread support for womens employment. This study examined attitudes toward provider role enactment and provider role responsibility and how such views varied by ethnicity, gender, demographic characteristics, immigration status, acculturation, and community economic conditions. Telephone interviews were conducted with 3,213 residents across 21 cities. The sample was 40% African American, 7% Mexican American, and 53% White. Though there was strong support for dual provider role enactment by female and male respondents, beliefs about mens responsibility for family provision displayed greater variability. Ethnic minorities, particularly less acculturated Mexican immigrants, were more likely than Whites to believe that men were responsible for making economic provisions. Favorable economic conditions for men were associated with a greater emphasis on male provider responsibilities among Mexican Americans and Whites, whereas the opposite was true for Blacks. Overall, the findings suggest that ones position in the socioeconomic structure and the economic potential for men in ones environment help shape these attitudes.

Social Structural and Psychological Correlates of Interethnic Dating

This study is designed to: (a) describe current interethnic dating behavior and related attitudes among southern Californians; and (b) examine social structural and psychological correlates of interethnic dating. Data were derived from a telephone survey conducted with a probability sample of African American, Latino and white residents of southern California. lnterethnic dating was reported by over half of all ethnic groups and both sexes and more frequently among men. Most reported that family members knew of their behavior and few families objected, although white women were most likely to report family criticism. Whites and Latinos who admitted to exclusions for intermarriage were most likely to exclude blacks, and black women and Latinas were most likely to exclude Asians. Logistic regression analyses indicated that interethnic dating was associated with being male, younger, having more education, being less lonely, the perception of having more mating opportunities and being African American or Latino rather than white. Within ethnic group analyses demonstrated that the loneliness finding was specific to African American women and Latino males, suggesting that dating outside of ones ethnic group was perhaps an adaptive behavior for these groups. It appears that ones particular location in the social structure as a function of age, education, sex and ethnic group may facilitate or discourage interethnic dating. Furthermore, mate availability considerations contribute to such decisions.

Adapting a Comprehensive Approach to African American Women's Sexual Risk Taking

Abstract This study examines factors predicting the context of HIV related sexual behaviors in a random, community sample of 227 African American single and married women, ages 18 to 50. Structural equation models tested associations between womens past sexual histories, relationship factors, and risks for unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, as well as risk reduction efforts since Magic Johnsons HIV disclosure. Sexual communication and past sexual experiences, most notably histories of STDs, physical, and sexual abuse, were significantly associated with increased HIV related sexual risk taking. Magic Johnsons HIV disclosure increased protective behaviors. Results suggest that a more comprehensive assessment of past victimization and cultural factors influencing womens behavior to reduce risks is needed in HIV prevention programs for African American women. The need for specific knowledge about womens sexuality and relationship risks beyond what currently is be...

Marital Attitudes, Perceived Mate Availability, and Subjective Well-Being among Partnered African American Men and Women

This study examined attitudinal and structural correlates of personal and relationship well-being among 139 African Americans in romantic partnerships, including marriage. Multiple regression analyses indicated that marital valuation is an important predictor of subjective well-being among partnered African American men. Among women, the value of relationships more generally, rather than marriage, was predictive of happiness and marital/relationship satisfaction. Although perceived mate availability was not a salient predictor of subjective well-being in the overall sample, it was related to depressive symptomatology among men. Income and education were unrelated to well-being. Results suggest that men who value marriage are more likely to reap the benefits ofpartnerships. They also suggest that the relative shortage of available men has no direct impact on womens mental health, perhaps because of a sense that the situation is systemically determined rather than a measure of personal adequacy.