In the Heart or in the Head: Relationship and Cognitive Influences on Sexual Risk Among Young Couples

Overview

Journal AIDS Behav

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2011 Oct 11

PMID 21983692

Citations 27

Authors

Trace Kershaw

Anna Arnold

Derrick Gordon

Urania Magriples

Linda Niccolai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Few studies examine how relationship factors influence sexual risk. We investigated gender differences of the influence of relationship functioning on sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 296 young pregnant couples. Compared to women, men were twice as likely to have a concurrent partner, were less likely to intend to be monogamous in the future, had less HIV/STI knowledge and more perceived risk for HIV/STI, negative attitudes and efficacy toward condom use (all P < 0.05). For men, poor relationship functioning related to less intentions to be monogamous, more partner concurrency, worse sexual communication, and more condom use. For women, poor relationship functioning related to worse sexual communication and less condom use. In addition, women who had good relationship functioning and women who had partners with poor relationship functioning were more likely to have an STI. These results demonstrate the need to include heterosexual men and relationship factors in HIV prevention.

Citing Articles

Reproductive health needs of HIV serodiscordant couples: a systematic review.

Motaharinezhad M, Yousefi Z, Rostami S, Goli S, Keramat A Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1348026.

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Factors Associated with Family Functioning During Pregnancy by Adolescent and Young Adult Women.

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