Relationship Context and condom Use to Prevent STDs

描述(由申请者提供)：在美国的拉丁裔青少年在 感染性病的风险比欧美青少年高，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，性行为之间的动态 合作伙伴是有效利用的关键。本研究将采用定性和定量的方法 用定量方法考察性关系动态对人的影响 墨西哥裔美国人和中美洲青少年异性恋者避孕套使用情况 合伙人。这项研究将包括这两个性伴侣。基于一个 关系权力的理论框架，由我们自己的前辈提供信息 工作，我们将研究关系权力如何影响避孕套的使用 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 关系中的投资)以及每个合作伙伴的影响策略 使用与避孕套的实际使用有关。我们还将研究具体到什么程度 文化背景的要素(性别角色信仰、性舒适、舒适 性交流，以及对负面反应的担忧)与 拉丁裔青少年使用避孕套的影响策略。 最后，通过个别定性访谈，对性行为的一个子群体 如果伴侣对是否使用避孕套持不同意见，我们将获得 与避孕套使用有关的关系动态的完整描述。在这 5年横断面研究，我们将招收552名墨西哥裔美国人和中美洲人 美国16-20岁的青少年和他们的性伴侣，来自 大型医疗保健组织的会员资格。我们将对100名学生进行定性采访 主要参与者和他们的性伴侣在是否 使用避孕套。这项拟议的研究是第一批实证研究之一 考察关系动态，如相对权力和影响力 在拉丁裔青少年中使用避孕套的策略与此有关。它也是 第一次对艾滋病毒危险行为的研究既包括性伴侣，也包括 提供有关关系的更完整信息的方法 这将有助于制定以夫妇为基础的干预措施。 研究结果将为改进STD/HIV干预措施提供关键信息 传授更安全的性行为谈判技巧，并培养适合文化的 针对拉丁裔青少年的干预措施。

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.