This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eyre, S. L. Articles by Peacock, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Romantic Relationships Trajectories of African American Gay/Bisexual Adolescents

University of California, San Francisco, stephen.eyre{at}ucsf.edu

Constance Milbrath

University of California, San Francisco

Ben Peacock

University of California, San Francisco

The interview study reported here sought to identify the perceived trajectory of romantic relationships of a cohort of Oakland African American gay/bisexual adolescents. Biographical interviews were used to identify cultural models of romantic relationships in the study sample and discovered a trajectory of four phases. In the antecedent to the trajectory, the youth enters the gay/bisexual social environment. In the first phase, the youth meets a male partner. In the second phase, the youth talks to the partner over a period of days or weeks. In the third phase, the couple enters into a boyfriend relationship and initiates sex. In the fourth phase, the couple experiences conflicts over infidelity and breaks up. As a consequence, the gay/bisexual youth experiences an aftermath that includes low self-esteem, trying to get back with the partner, and revenge sex. Each phase is described with informant quotations. Some implications for HIV prevention with these adolescents are discussed.

Key Words: romantic relationships • African American • adolescent • gay • bisexual • cultural models • culture theory

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?