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In the Heart or in the Head: Relationship and Cognitive Influences on Sexual Risk Among Young Couples

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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.

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Acknowledgment

This study is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health (1R01MH75685).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale School of Public Health, Room 415, 60 College, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Trace Kershaw, Anna Arnold, Derrick Gordon, Urania Magriples & Linda Niccolai

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  1. Trace Kershaw
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  3. Derrick Gordon
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Correspondence to Trace Kershaw.

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Kershaw, T., Arnold, A., Gordon, D. et al. In the Heart or in the Head: Relationship and Cognitive Influences on Sexual Risk Among Young Couples. AIDS Behav 16, 1522–1531 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0049-1

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