title: Using a dyadic logistic multilevel model to analyze couple data.
abstract: There is growing recognition within the sexual and reproductive health field of the importance of incorporating both partners' perspectives when examining sexual and reproductive health behaviors. Yet, the analytical approaches to address couple data have not been readily integrated and utilized within the demographic and public health literature. This paper seeks to provide readers unfamiliar with analytical approaches to couple data an applied example of the use of dyadic logistic multilevel modeling, a useful approach to analyzing couple data to assess the individual, partner and couple characteristics that are related to individuals' reproductively relevant beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. The use of multilevel models in reproductive health research can help researchers develop a more comprehensive picture of the way in which individuals' reproductive health outcomes are situated in a larger relationship and cultural context.
authors.affiliation: Research and Evaluation, CollegeSpring, 800S. Figueroa Street, Suite 760 Los Angeles, CA 90017. Electronic address: mariana.a.preciado@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Preciado
authors.affiliation: UCLA Department of Psychology, 4643 Franz Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563. Electronic address: krull@psych.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Krull
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Care Policy, 180 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. Electronic address: hicks@hcp.med.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, CHS 46-071B, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772. Electronic address: jgipson@ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Jessica D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gipson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003469:Culture; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners
keywords: Couples; Methods; Multilevel modeling; Reproductive health