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Differences in Relationship Characteristics Between HIV-Negative Male Couples Who Used and Did Not Use Substances with Sex

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Abstract

Although substance use is linked to HIV seroconversion, little is known about male couples substance use with sex. The present study sought to: describe whether neither, one, or both partners in the couple used a particular substance with sex within or outside their relationship; assess, by substance type used with sex, whether relationship factors differed between these groups of couples. Dyadic data from 83 behaviorally non-monogamous HIV-negative male couples were used with multinomial regression models. Those who used with sex within the relationship varied by substance type; outside the relationship, most only had one partner who used with sex. Couples with one or both partners who used substances with sex within or outside the relationship were more likely to have higher commitment to their relationship yet less likely to trust their main partner; mixed results were found regarding communication. Further research is warranted toward the need for preventive intervention development.

Resumen

Aunque el consumo de sustancias está vinculada a la seroconversión del VIH, se sabe poco sobre el uso de las parejas sustancia masculina con el sexo. El presente estudio trata de: describir si no, uno o ambos miembros de la pareja utilizó una sustancia en particular con el sexo dentro o fuera de su relación; evaluar, por tipo de sustancia que se utiliza con el sexo, si los factores de relación diferentes entre estos grupos de parejas. Datos diádicos de 83 parejas de comportamiento no-monógamas sin VIH masculinos se utilizaron modelos de regresión multinomial. Los que usaron con el sexo dentro de la relación varió según el tipo de sustancias; fuera de la relación, la mayoría sólo tenía una pareja que usa con el sexo. Las parejas con uno o ambos cónyuges que usaron sustancias con el sexo dentro o fuera de la relación eran más propensos a tener mayor compromiso con su relación aún menos propensos a confiar en su pareja principal; No se han encontrado resultados mixtos en materia de comunicación. Se necesita más investigación hacia la necesidad de desarrollar la intervención preventiva.

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Acknowledgments

Data collected for this article was supported by the center (P30-MH52776) and NRSA (T32-MH19985) Grants from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Special thanks are extended to the participants for their time and effort.

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  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite 1021, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Jason W. Mitchell

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  1. Jason W. Mitchell
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Correspondence to Jason W. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, J.W. Differences in Relationship Characteristics Between HIV-Negative Male Couples Who Used and Did Not Use Substances with Sex. AIDS Behav 20, 667–678 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1148-1

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