Relationship Dynamics and Sexual Risk Behaviors

描述(由申请人提供)： 虽然先前的研究已经证明，关系特征和伴侣类型(例如，临时与主要的性伴侣)与艾滋病毒风险行为有关，但关系动态在性风险行为中的作用才刚刚开始研究。这项赠款申请请求支持一个为期4年半的项目，该项目旨在审查处于艾滋病毒感染高危状态的育龄男子和妇女在异性性行为中的关系动态。建议研究的总体目标是提高对关系动态对性风险认知、意图和行为的影响的理解。关系动态被定义为在给定的二元参与中的特定时间出现的因素，这些因素是该参与的结果(例如，承诺水平、性决策)。这项研究的具体目的是：1)跟踪高危男性和女性样本中伙伴关系和相关关系随时间的变化；2)探索伙伴关系特定的关系动态，与同时发生的性伙伴关系的开始和持续时间有关，总体上和按性别；3)评估伙伴关系特定因素对个人水平的性风险认知、意图和行为的不同预测能力，总体上和按性别；以及4)使用来自双方成员的数据，确定谁的避孕套使用意向最能预测表达意图不同的双方成员使用避孕套的情况。将对528名个体进行纵向研究，每隔四个月进行四次不同的测量。这项研究将跟踪高危男性和女性开始、维持和/或终止性关系的情况。在时间3，估计有150名男性和150名女性作为最初样本成员的性伴侣也将参加这项研究。在时间3和时间4，将分别和一起从两端的两个成员收集数据，并使用参与者-伙伴相互依赖模型(APIM)进行分析。研究结果将对制定干预措施，通过解决性关系的动态来降低亲密关系中的艾滋病毒感染风险产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although prior research has demonstrated that relationship characteristics and partner type (e.g., casual vs. primary sexual partner) are associated with HIV risk behavior, the role of relationship dynamics in sexual risk behavior has only begun to be examined. This grant application requests support for a 4 1/2-year project to examine relationship dynamics within the heterosexual involvements of men and women of reproductive age at high-risk for HIV infection. The overall objective of the proposed research is to improve understanding of the influence of relationship dynamics on sexual risk perceptions, intentions, and behaviors. Relationship dynamics are defined as factors present at a specific time within a given dyadic involvement that emerge as a result of that involvement (e.g., level of commitment, sexual decision-making). The specific aims of the study are to 1) track transitions in partnerships and associated relationship dynamics over time among a sample of high-risk men and women; 2) explore partnership-specific relationship dynamics associated with initiation of concurrent sexual partnerships and the duration of concurrence, overall and by gender; 3) assess the differential predictive abilities of partnership-specific factors with respect to individual-level sexual risk perceptions, intentions and behaviors, overall and by gender; and 4) determine whose condom use intention best prospectively predicts condom use among dyad members who differ in their expressed intentions, using data from both dyad members. A longitudinal study of 528 individuals with four distinct measurement occasions at four-month intervals will be conducted. The study will track high-risk men and women as they initiate, maintain, and/or terminate sexual relationships. At Time 3, an estimated 150 men and 150 women who are the sexual partners of members of the initial sample will also be enrolled in the study. At Times 3 and 4, data will be collected from both members of the dyad separately and together and analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Findings will have significant implications for the design of interventions for reducing the risk of HIV infection among individuals in close relationships by addressing the dynamics of sexual partnerships.