Impact of marriage on HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among impoverished, at-risk couples: a multilevel latent variable approach.
Studies among normative samples generally demonstrate a positive impact of marriage on health behaviors and other related attitudes. In this study, we examine the impact of marriage on HIV/AIDS risk behaviors and attitudes among impoverished, highly stressed, homeless couples, many with severe substance abuse problems. A multilevel analysis of 368 high-risk sexually intimate married and unmarried heterosexual couples assessed individual and couple-level effects on social support, substance use problems, HIV/AIDS knowledge, perceived HIV/AIDS risk, needle-sharing, condom use, multiple sex partners, and HIV/AIDS testing. More variance was explained in the protective and risk variables by couple-level latent variable predictors than by individual latent variable predictors, although some gender effects were found (e.g., more alcohol problems among men). The couple-level variable of marriage predicted lower perceived risk, less deviant social support, and fewer sex partners but predicted more needle-sharing.
Stein
Judith A
JA
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. jastein@ucla.edu
Nyamathi
Adeline
A
Ullman
Jodie B
JB
Bentler
Peter M
PM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016485:Needle Sharing; D011203:Poverty; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners