Relationship Context and condom Use to Prevent STDs

描述（由申请人提供）：美国的拉丁裔青少年在 感染性病的风险高于欧洲裔美国青少年，部分 因为他们的避孕套使用率较低。使用避孕套是一种复杂的行为。 因为它是在男性的身体控制下， 伙伴对有效利用至关重要。本研究将采用定性和 定量方法来研究性关系动态对 墨西哥裔美国人和中美洲青少年异性恋者安全套使用情况 伙伴这项研究将包括双方的性伴侣。基于 关系权力的理论框架，并通过我们自己以前的 工作，我们将研究关系权力如何影响安全套的使用， 不同意是否使用避孕套的青少年。我们将研究 性伴侣的相对个人资源（例如，情感 投资的关系）和影响战略，每个合作伙伴 使用与实际使用避孕套有关。我们还将研究如何具体 文化背景因素（性别角色信念、性舒适、舒适 与性交流，以及对负面反应的关注）与 拉丁裔青少年使用避孕套的影响策略。 最后，通过对一个性别分组的个人定性访谈， 如果伴侣不同意是否使用避孕套，我们将获得一个 与安全套使用有关的关系动态的完整描述。在这 5-一年的横断面研究，我们将招募552墨西哥裔美国人和中央 美国青少年，年龄在16-20岁之间，他们的性伴侣，从 一个大型HMO的成员。我们将对100名 主要参与者和他们的性伴侣谁不同意是否 使用避孕套。这项研究是最早的实证研究之一， 研究关系动力学，如相对权力和影响力， 战略与拉丁美洲青少年使用避孕套有关。它也是 第一个研究艾滋病毒的危险行为，包括双方的性伴侣， 一种能提供更完整的关系信息的方法 这将有助于发展以夫妇为基础的干预措施。 研究结果将为完善性病/艾滋病干预措施提供重要信息 教授安全性行为谈判技巧， 对拉丁裔青少年的干预。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Latino adolescents in the U.S. are at higher risk of contracting STDs than European American adolescents, partially because of their lower rates of condom use. Condom use is a complex behavior. Because it is under the physical control of males, the dynamics between sexual partners are critical to effective use. This study will use qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the impact of sexual relationship dynamics on condom use among Mexican American and Central American adolescent heterosexual partners. The research will include both sexual partners. Based on a theoretical framework for relationship power and informed by our own previous work, we will examine how relationship power influences condom use among adolescents who disagree about whether or not to use condoms. We will examine whether sexual partners' relative personal resources (e.g., emotional investment in the relationship) and the influence strategies that each partner uses are related to actual condom use. We will also examine how specific elements of the cultural context (gender role beliefs, sexual comfort, comfort with sexual communication, and concern about negative responses) are linked to the influence strategies that Latino adolescents use to obtain condom use. Finally, through individual qualitative interviews with a subgroup of sexual partners who disagree about whether or not to use condoms, we will obtain a full description of relationship dynamics that relate to condom use. In this 5-year cross-sectional study, we will recruit 552 Mexican American and Central American adolescents, ages 16-20, and their sexual partners, from the membership of a large HMO. We will conduct qualitative interviews with 100 primary participants and their sexual partners who disagree about whether to use condoms. The proposed research is among the first empirical studies to examine how relationship dynamics such as relative power and influence strategies are related to condom use among Latino adolescents. It is also among the first studies of HIV risk behavior to include both sexual partners, an approach that will provide more complete information about relationship dynamics, and will facilitate the development of couple-based interventions. The results will provide critical information to refine STD/HIV interventions that teach safer sex negotiation skills, and to develop culturally appropriate interventions for Latino adolescents.