title: In the heart or in the head: relationship and cognitive influences on sexual risk among young couples.
abstract: Few studies examine how relationship factors influence sexual risk. We investigated gender differences of the influence of relationship functioning on sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 296 young pregnant couples. Compared to women, men were twice as likely to have a concurrent partner, were less likely to intend to be monogamous in the future, had less HIV/STI knowledge and more perceived risk for HIV/STI, negative attitudes and efficacy toward condom use (all P < 0.05). For men, poor relationship functioning related to less intentions to be monogamous, more partner concurrency, worse sexual communication, and more condom use. For women, poor relationship functioning related to worse sexual communication and less condom use. In addition, women who had good relationship functioning and women who had partners with poor relationship functioning were more likely to have an STI. These results demonstrate the need to include heterosexual men and relationship factors in HIV prevention.
authors: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. Trace.kershaw@yale.edu
authors: Trace
authors: T
authors: Kershaw
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Arnold
authors: Derrick
authors: D
authors: Gordon
authors: Urania
authors: U
authors: Magriples
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Niccolai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003237:Connecticut; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult