title: Relationship characteristics and contraceptive use among young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young adults have high rates of unintended childbearing and STDs, yet little research has examined the role of relationship characteristics in their contraceptive use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected from the 2002-2005 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth yielded a sample of 4,014 dating relationships among sexually active 18-26-year-olds. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic and multinomial logistic regressions assessed associations between relationship characteristics and contraceptive use at last sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In three-quarters of the relationships, respondents had used some method at last intercourse; respondents in 26% of the relationships had used a condom only, in 26% a hormonal method only and in 23% dual methods. Compared with respondents in relationships in which first sex occurred within two months of starting to date, those who first had sex before dating were more likely to have used any method at last sex (odds ratio, 1.4), particularly condoms or dual methods (relative risk ratio, 1.5 for each). The relative risk of using a hormonal method only, rather than no method or condoms only, increased with relationship duration (1.01) and level of intimacy (1.1-1.2). Discussing marriage or cohabitation was associated with reduced odds of having used any method (0.7) and a reduced relative risk of having used condoms alone or dual methods (0.6 for each). Increasing levels of partner conflict and asymmetry were also linked to reduced odds of any method use (0.97 and 0.90, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevention programs should address relationship context in contraceptive decision making, perhaps by combining relationship and sex education curricula to foster communication and negotiation skills.
authors.affiliation: Child Trends, Washington, DC, USA. jmanlove@childtrends.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manlove
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Welti
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelar
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wildsmith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003273:Contraceptive Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents