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Intimacy, Monogamy, and Condom Problems Drive Unprotected Sex Among Young Men in Serious Relationships with Other Men: A Mixed Methods Dyadic Study

  • Special Section: Sexual Health in Gay and Bisexual Male Couples
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Abstract

This mixed methods study aimed to examine partner and relationship characteristics associated with HIV risk among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). A sub-sample of YMSM (18–25 years) who were involved in serious relationships with other men were recruited from two on-going longitudinal studies, Project Q2 and Crew450 (N = 20 couples). The mean age of the dyadic sample was 22.5 years (SD = 5.33, range 18–46 years) and participants were racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest percentage of the sample identifying as African American (47.5 %), followed by Hispanic (20 %). Participants completed individual self-report measures using computer-assisted self-interview technology and engaged in couples-based interviews. Mixed methods analyses indicated three global reasons for unprotected sex among YMSM in serious relationships: (1) the desire to achieve emotional intimacy; (2) the perception of being in a monogamous relationship; and (3) the difficulties associated with accessing and/or using condoms. Couples’ decision-making processes, including decisions made “in the heat of the moment,” have implications for HIV prevention interventions.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (1R21MH095413; PI: Mustanski). A small portion of the sample was also recruited through a cohort funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R01DA025548; PIs: Mustanski and Garofalo). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2700, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    George J. Greene, Rebecca Andrews & Brian Mustanski

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Laura Kuper

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  1. George J. Greene
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  2. Rebecca Andrews
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  3. Laura Kuper
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  4. Brian Mustanski
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Correspondence to Brian Mustanski.

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Greene, G.J., Andrews, R., Kuper, L. et al. Intimacy, Monogamy, and Condom Problems Drive Unprotected Sex Among Young Men in Serious Relationships with Other Men: A Mixed Methods Dyadic Study. Arch Sex Behav 43, 73–87 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0210-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0210-1

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