ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of paternal influences on African American male adolescents’ perceptions of confidence to be abstinent or practice safer sex to prevent HIV.  The theoretical perspectives utilized were McCubbin’s constructs of family hardiness and coherence and Bandura’s construct of self-efficacy.   A convenience sample of 70 father/son dyads from faith communities participated in the study.  This study utilized data from a previous study that examined family influences on abstinence and safer sex in African American male adolescents.  Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to identify significant paternal predictors of a son’s abstinence.  A father’s greater communication of sexual standards was associated with a greater son’s self-efficacy for safer sex.  A greater father’s perception of his son’s self-efficacy was associated with greater son’s self-efficacy for abstinence.    This study recognizes the importance of fathers in relationship to a son’s confidence to be abstinent or practice safer sex.  Nurses should encourage fathers to discuss sexual issues and standards with their sons.  Fathers should also be involved in programs that promote father son communication.    

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