Testing the Health Belief Model among African-American Gay/Bisexual Men with Self-Efficacy and Minority-Specific Contextual Variables

This study used structural equation modeling to test variations of the Health Belief Model in predicting safer sex intentions among 151 African-American gay/bisexual men. Acculturation and gay socialization were included to see if minority-specific contextual variables improved the model fit. Perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, and cues to action did not improve the model. Including self-efficacy as a mediating variable improved the model and overall prediction of safer sex intentions. Although acculturation and gay socialization were not statistically significant additions to the model, there are conceptual and practical reasons why these variables may influence safer sex intentions among African-American gay/bisexual men.