TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics and allowed behaviors of gay male couples sexual agreements
AU - Mitchell, Jason W.
N1 - Funding Information:
This manuscript was supported by the Center for AIDS Intervention Research (P30-MH52776; PI: J. Kelly) and National Research Service Award (T32-MH19985; PI: S. Pinkerton) grants from the National Institute of Mental Health.
PY - 2014/4/1
Y1 - 2014/4/1
N2 - Research has shown that gay male couples sexual agreements may affect their risk for HIV. Few U.S. studies have collected dyadic data nationally from gay male couples to assess what sexual behaviors they allow to occur by agreement type and the sequence of when certain behaviors occur within their relationships. In our cross-sectional study, dyadic data from a convenience sample of 361 male couples were collected electronically throughout the United States by using paid Facebook ads. Findings revealed that couples discussed their HIV status before having unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) but established their agreement some time after having UAI. About half of the couples (N = 207) concurred about having an agreement. Among these couples, 58% concurred about explicitly discussing their agreement, 84% concurred about having the same type of agreement, and 54% had both men adhering to it. A variety of sexual behaviors were endorsed and varied by agreement type. Concordance about aspects of couples agreements varied, suggesting the need to engage couples to be more explicit and detailed when establishing and communicating about their agreements. The allowed behaviors and primary reasons for establishing and breaking sexual agreements further highlight the need to bolster HIV prevention for gay male couples.
AB - Research has shown that gay male couples sexual agreements may affect their risk for HIV. Few U.S. studies have collected dyadic data nationally from gay male couples to assess what sexual behaviors they allow to occur by agreement type and the sequence of when certain behaviors occur within their relationships. In our cross-sectional study, dyadic data from a convenience sample of 361 male couples were collected electronically throughout the United States by using paid Facebook ads. Findings revealed that couples discussed their HIV status before having unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) but established their agreement some time after having UAI. About half of the couples (N = 207) concurred about having an agreement. Among these couples, 58% concurred about explicitly discussing their agreement, 84% concurred about having the same type of agreement, and 54% had both men adhering to it. A variety of sexual behaviors were endorsed and varied by agreement type. Concordance about aspects of couples agreements varied, suggesting the need to engage couples to be more explicit and detailed when establishing and communicating about their agreements. The allowed behaviors and primary reasons for establishing and breaking sexual agreements further highlight the need to bolster HIV prevention for gay male couples.
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U2 - 10.1080/00224499.2012.727915
DO - 10.1080/00224499.2012.727915
M3 - Article
C2 - 23514544
AN - SCOPUS:84896693845
VL - 51
SP - 316
EP - 328
JO - Journal of Sex Research
JF - Journal of Sex Research
SN - 0022-4499
IS - 3
ER -