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Relationship Characteristics and Dyadic Approaches to HIV Health-Enhancing Behaviours Among a Sample of Same-Sex Male Couples From Three U.S. Cities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2018

Jessica Marsack Open the ORCID record for Jessica Marsack [Opens in a new window] ,
Erin Kahle ,
Nicolas A. Suarez ,
Matthew J. Mimiaga ,
Robert Garofalo ,
Emily Brown ,
Anna Marie Bratcher ,
Taylor Wimbly ,
Marco A. Hidalgo  and
Samuel Hoehnle
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Jessica Marsack*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Erin Kahle
Affiliation:
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Nicolas A. Suarez
Affiliation:
Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Matthew J. Mimiaga
Affiliation:
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Center for Health Equity Research, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA Departments of Behavioral and Social Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Robert Garofalo
Affiliation:
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Emily Brown
Affiliation:
The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Anna Marie Bratcher
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Taylor Wimbly
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Marco A. Hidalgo
Affiliation:
Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
Samuel Hoehnle
Affiliation:
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jennie Thai
Affiliation:
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Patrick S. Sullivan
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Rob Stephenson
Affiliation:
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Jessica Marsack, Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls St., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Email: marsjess@umich.edu
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Abstract

Recent modelling estimates up to two-thirds of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men occur within partnerships, indicating the importance of dyadic HIV prevention efforts. Although new interventions are available to promote dyadic health-enhancing behaviours, minimal research has examined what factors influence partners’ mutual engagement in these behaviours, a critical component of intervention success. Actor-partner interdependence modelling was used to examine associations between relationship characteristics and several dyadic outcomes theorised as antecedents to health-enhancing behaviours: planning and decision making, communication, and joint effort. Among 270 male-male partnerships, relationship satisfaction was significantly associated with all three outcomes for actors (p = .02, .02, .06 respectively). Latino men reported poorer planning and decision making (actor p = .032) and communication (partner p = .044). Alcohol use was significantly and negatively associated with all outcomes except actors’ planning and decision making (actors: p = .11, .038, .004 respectively; partners: p = .03, .056, .02 respectively). Having a sexual agreement was significantly associated with actors’ planning and decision making (p = .007) and communication (p = .008). Focusing on interactions between partners produces a more comprehensive understanding of male couples’ ability to engage in health-enhancing behaviours. This knowledge further identifies new and important foci for the tailoring of dyadic HIV prevention and care interventions.

Keywords

health disparitiesdyadsexual minority healthMSM
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 9 , 2018 , e10
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

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