The survey conducted mostly among 18 to 24 years old showed low level of sexual
activity in the immigrant population and even lower in the first generation
compared with the second generation.
Overall 55 per cent respondents reported engaging in sexual activity. But an
interesting finding that the first generation constituted only 22 per cent
among them.
For the second generation, the figure was 82 per cent. It appears, the authors
said, that the young immigrants eventually adopt the sexual practices of the
new culture, after an intermediate period of uncertainty in which they have not
abandoned the prior belief and have not accepted the new one completely.
The survey was conducted by Neeti Joshi and her colleagues from the Department
of Medical Informatics at the Columbia University under the overall supervision
of Vimla L Patel among New Yorkers. It was published in the Columbia
Undergraduate Science Journal and the results were reported by IndoLink, an
ethnic portal for Asian Indians. "Using cognitive analysis, we documented
distinct patterns of safe sex behaviour and specific reasoning strategies
associated with these patterns," reported Joshi and her colleagues Nicole
Yoskowitz and Kelley Urry.
They also state, "We have identified a pattern of low sexual activity in a
sample of first- and second-generation young-adult immigrant Indians, with
significantly less sexual activity in the first generation." Joshi's objective
has been to understand the influences on individual decision-making regarding
the sexual activity of South Asians-- mostly 18-24 year old Indian-Americans in
New York City.
Throughout the study, Joshi explored the decision-making processes, attitudes,
and belief systems of young 'Desis' with respect to their sexual behaviour,
and, in the process, identified the socio-cognitive factors that push young
immigrant adults to move towards risky sexual behaviour in the American
environment.
The beliefs and attitudes surveyed included: information related to condom use
beliefs, family expectations related to marriage, participant's preferences
related to marriage and beliefs pertaining to HIV. Overall, the Joshi study
reveals that transmission of beliefs from first to second generation is crucial
with regard to decision-making governing safe sexual behaviour.
