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Relationship Factors Associated with Gay Male Couples’ Concordance on Aspects of Their Sexual Agreements: Establishment, Type, and Adherence

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Abstract

Factors associated with gay male couples’ concordance on aspects of sexual agreements remain understudied. The present study examined which relationship factors, self-reports of UAI, and patterns of HIV testing may be associated with men who were concordant about having a sexual agreement, the same type of sexual agreement, and adhering to their sexual agreement with their main partner. Various recruitment strategies were used to collect dyadic data from 142 gay male couples. Concordance on aspects of sexual agreements varied within the sample. Results indicated that relationship satisfaction was significantly associated with couples who were concordant about having and adhering to their sexual agreement. Predictability and faith of trusting a partner, and value in one’s sexual agreement were also positively associated with couples’ adhering to their sexual agreement. More research is needed to better understand how relationship dynamics, including sexual agreements, affect HIV risk among gay male couples in the U.S.

Resumen

Factores asociados a concordancia de aspectos en acuerdos sexuales entre parejas gay no han sido suficientemente investigados. Este estudio examina factores de relación de pareja, auto-reportes de sexo anal desprotegido y patrones de pruebas de VIH que pueden estar asociados a concordancia en tener un acuerdo sexual, el tipo de acuerdo, y adherencia al acuerdo con su pareja principal. Se usaron varias estrategias de reclutamiento para recoger data diádica en 142 parejas de hombres gay. Concordancia en aspectos de acuerdos sexuales variaron en esta muestra. Los resultados indican que satisfacción con la relación está asociado a concordancia en tener y adherirse al acuerdo sexual. Predecibilidad y fe en la confiabilidad de la pareja y valorización del acuerdo están positivamente asociados a adherencia al acuerdo sexual. Más investigación es necesaria para entender como las dinámicas de relación, incluyendo acuerdos sexuales, afectan el riesgo de VIH en parejas gay en los EE.UU.

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript was supported by the center (P30-MH52776; PI: J. Kelly) and NRSA (T32-MH19985; PI: S. Pinkerton) grants from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors wish to sincerely thank all the participants for their time and effort.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA

    Jason W. Mitchell

  2. College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    S. Marie Harvey & Donna Champeau

  3. Department of Communication, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    David A. Moskowitz

  4. Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    David Wyatt Seal

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  1. Jason W. Mitchell
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  2. S. Marie Harvey
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Correspondence to Jason W. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, J.W., Harvey, S.M., Champeau, D. et al. Relationship Factors Associated with Gay Male Couples’ Concordance on Aspects of Their Sexual Agreements: Establishment, Type, and Adherence. AIDS Behav 16, 1560–1569 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0064-2

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