title: Corroboration of sexual histories among male homosexual couples.
abstract: Using data from a study of human immunodeficiency virus transmission among homosexual male partners from Boston, Massachusetts, the authors compared self-reported sexual histories among 155 index-partner pairs during 1985-1988. Overall, high levels of agreement were observed for all reported sexual activities. Agreement on anal sex was very high (Spearman's r = 0.78-0.79, p less than or equal to 0.001; kappa = 0.76-0.88, p less than or equal to 0.001). Level of agreement did vary significantly by a couple's drug and alcohol use; the heavier substance user generally reported fewer sexual encounters than the lighter user. These results have important implications in sexual behavior research and show that among homosexual men, self-reports of sexual behavior may be reasonably valid.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Urban Health Policy, Research, and Education, Boston Department of Health and Hospitals, MA.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Seage
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Horsburgh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders