title: Illuminating the Context and Circumstances of Male Couples Establishing a Sexual Agreement in Their Relationship.
abstract: A sexual agreement is an explicit mutual understanding made between two partners about which sexual and relational behaviors they agree to engage in within and/or outside of their relationship. Factors that prompt male couples to form a sexual agreement and under what circumstances remain underinvestigated, yet are important considerations for development of couples-based sexual health and HIV prevention interventions. By using thematic analysis with qualitative dyadic data from a convenience sample of 29 HIV-negative male couples, the present study sought to describe the timing and investigate the context and circumstances that led male couples to establish a sexual agreement in their relationship at both the individual and couple levels, and by agreement type. Themes identified for when a sexual agreement was formed included within the first 6 months, and after 6 months in the relationship. Themes related to context and circumstances of couples' sexual agreement formation were as follows: (a) desire for sexual exploration, (b) arisen circumstances or events with other men, (c) influences from past relationship(s) and/or other couples (i.e., peers), (d) to protect against HIV, and (e) purposeful conversations versus understood. Findings suggest HIV prevention efforts should include skill-building exercises to help improve communication and promote sex positivity within male couples' relationships.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woodyatt
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauermeister
authors.affiliation: 2 Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017008:Negotiating; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: establishment; formation; male couples; qualitative; sexual agreements