Abstract
Few researchers have quantitatively explored the relationship power-HIV risk nexus in same-sex male couples. We developed and validated the Power Imbalance in Couples Scale (PICS) to measure relationship power among men in same-sex, committed relationships and its association with sexual risk behaviors. We recruited three independent and diverse samples of male couples in the greater San Francisco and New York City metropolitan areas and conducted qualitative interviews (N1 = 96) to inform item development, followed by two quantitative surveys (N2 = 341; N3 = 434) to assess the construct, predictive, convergent, and discriminant validity of the PICS. Exploratory factor analysis of the first survey’s data yielded four factors—overtly controlling partner, supportive partner, conflict avoidant actor, and overtly controlling actor—that accounted for more than 50% of the shared variance among the PICS items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the second survey’s data supported these four factors: χ2(1823) = 2493.40, p < .001; CFI = .96, RMSEA = .03 and WRMR = 1.33. Strong interfactor correlations suggested the presence of a higher-order general perception of power imbalance factor; a higher-order factor CFA model was comparable in fit to the correlated lower-order factors’ CFA: χ2(2) = 2.00, p = .37. Internal reliability of the PICS scale was strong: α = .94. Men perceiving greater power imbalances in their relationships had higher odds of engaging in condomless anal intercourse with outside partners of discordant or unknown HIV status (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.01–1.60; p = .04). The PICS is an important contribution to measuring relationship power imbalance and its sequelae among male couples; it is applicable to research on relationships, sexuality, couples, and HIV prevention.
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Appendix: Power Imbalance in Couples Scale (PICS)
Appendix: Power Imbalance in Couples Scale (PICS)
For the next set of questions, think about your current relationship with your primary partner.
Response option sets (RS)
RS1 Frequency 1 = Never 2 = Sometimes 3 = About half the time 4 = Most of the time 5 = Always | RS2 How true? 1 = Not at all true 2 = A little true 3 = Moderately true 4 = Very true 5 = Extremely true |
Overtly controlling partner
Item text | Response set | |
---|---|---|
1 | I try to avoid conflict with my partner because I am afraid of him | RS1 |
2 | My partner bullies me to get his way | RS2 |
3 | My partner belittles me to get his way | RS2 |
4 | My partner insults me to get his way | RS2 |
5 | My partner threatens me to get his way | RS2 |
6 | My partner hits me to get his way | RS2 |
7 | When my partner and I disagree, I fear that my partner will hurt me physically | RS2 |
8 | My partner tells me what to wear | RS2 |
9 | My partner tells me I look too feminine | RS2 |
10 | My partner tells me how to act | RS2 |
11 | My partner doesn’t want me to hang out with my friends | RS2 |
12 | My partner forces me to drink alcohol when I don’t want to | RS2 |
13 | My partner forces me to use drugs when I don’t want to | RS2 |
14 | My partner manipulates me by being a drama queen when I want to talk about something important | RS2 |
15 | My partner has control over what I do with my body | RS2 |
16 | My partner denigrates my feminine qualities | RS2 |
17 | My partner belittles me when I act gay | RS2 |
18 | My partner is jealous of most of the people I interact with | RS2 |
19 | My partner threatens me | RS2 |
20 | My partner is controlling | RS2 |
21 | I act less feminine when I’m around my partner than I do at other times | RS2 |
22 | I am afraid of my partner | RS2 |
23 | My partner tries to make me feel guilty | RS2 |
24 | My partner does things to make me feel ugly | RS2 |
25 | My partner says things to make me feel ugly | RS2 |
26 | My partner sabotages my attempts to stay healthy | RS2 |
Supportive partner
Item text | Response set | |
---|---|---|
27 | When my partner and I disagree, we sit down and talk through the problem | RS2 |
28 | My partner and I rarely disagree | RS2 |
29 | I feel able to change things in my relationship if I don’t like them | RS2 |
30 | My partner does things to make me feel attractive | RS2 |
31 | My partner says things to make me feel attractive | RS2 |
32 | My partner does things to make me feel desirable | RS2 |
33 | My partner says things to make me feel desirable | RS2 |
34 | My partner makes me feel valued | RS2 |
35 | My partner appreciates my intelligence | RS2 |
36 | My partner supports my endeavors | RS2 |
37 | My partner values what I have to say | RS2 |
38 | My partner looks after my well-being | RS2 |
39 | I can talk to my partner about anything | RS2 |
40 | I feel empowered by my partner | RS2 |
41 | My partner is my equal | RS2 |
Conflict avoidant actor
Item text | Response set | |
---|---|---|
42 | I give into my partner to keep him from getting angry | RS1 |
43 | I hold back my feelings in order to avoid conflict with my partner | RS1 |
44 | I watch what I say because my partner might get angry | RS1 |
45 | I avoid conflict with my partner | RS1 |
46 | I get quiet during difficult conversations because I am afraid of what my partner’s reaction might be | RS1 |
47 | I use silence to influence the way difficult conversations go | RS1 |
48 | I avoid disagreeing with my partner | RS2 |
49 | When my partner and I disagree, he usually gets his way | RS2 |
50 | When my partner and I disagree, I am usually quiet | RS2 |
51 | I am afraid to disagree with my partner | RS2 |
52 | When my partner and I disagree, I don’t express my feelings to avoid making my partner angry | RS2 |
53 | When my partner and I disagree, my partner has more say about how we resolve the disagreement | RS2 |
Overtly controlling actor
Item text | Response set | |
---|---|---|
54 | My partner gives into keep me from getting angry | RS1 |
55 | I bully my partner to get my way | RS2 |
56 | I belittle my partner to get my way | RS2 |
57 | I insult my partner to get my way | RS2 |
58 | I threaten my partner to get my way | RS2 |
59 | I hit my partner to get my way | RS2 |
60 | My partner is afraid to disagree with me | RS2 |
61 | I prefer to be in charge in my relationship | RS2 |
62 | My partner should feel obligated to me for all the things I do for us | RS2 |
Scoring
The score for each of the four subscales is calculated as the sum of the individual items in it.
To calculate the overall PICS score, first reverse-score all items in the subscale “Supportive Partner” and sum the reversed items. Add this sum to the total subscale scores of the remaining three subscales.
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Neilands, T.B., Dworkin, S.L., Chakravarty, D. et al. Development and Validation of the Power Imbalance in Couples Scale. Arch Sex Behav 48, 763–779 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1190-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1190-y