Relationship Dynamics and Sexual Risk Behaviors

描述（由申请人提供）： 虽然先前的研究表明，关系特征和伴侣类型（例如，尽管性伴侣（包括临时性伴侣和主要性伴侣）与艾滋病毒风险行为有关，但关系动力学在性风险行为中的作用才刚刚开始被研究。该拨款申请要求支持一个为期4 1/2年的项目，以研究艾滋病毒感染高风险育龄男性和女性异性性行为中的关系动态。拟议的研究的总体目标是提高对性风险的认知，意图和行为的关系动态的影响的理解。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，性行为决策（sexual decision making）。该研究的具体目的是：（1）跟踪高风险男性和女性样本中随着时间的推移，伙伴关系和相关关系动态的转变;（2）探索与同时性伙伴关系的启动和同时性伙伴关系的持续时间相关的特定伙伴关系动态，总体和性别; 3）评估伴侣特异性因素对个体层面性风险认知、意图和行为的总体和性别差异预测能力;以及4）使用来自两个二元组成员的数据，确定在表达意图不同的二元组成员中，哪一个避孕套使用意图最能预测避孕套的使用。将对528名个体进行纵向研究，每隔4个月进行4次不同的测量。这项研究将跟踪高风险男性和女性，因为他们开始，维持和/或终止性关系。在时间点3，估计有150名男性和150名女性也将入组本研究，他们是初始样本成员的性伴侣。在时间3和时间4，将分别和一起从二元体的两个成员中收集数据，并使用演员-合作伙伴相互依赖模型（APIM）进行分析。研究结果将有显着的影响，通过解决性伙伴关系的动态，减少艾滋病毒感染的风险在密切关系的个人之间的干预措施的设计。

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.