Relationship Dynamics as Predictors of Broken Agreements About Outside Sexual Partners: Implications for HIV Prevention Among Gay Couples

Abstract

Agreements about allowing sex with outside partners are common among gay couples, and breaks in these agreements can be indicative of HIV risk. Using longitudinal survey data from both partners in 263 gay couples, we investigate whether relationship dynamics are associated with broken agreements. 23% of respondents report breaking their agreement.Partners who report higher levels of trust, communication, commitment, and social support are significantly less likely to report breaking their agreement. Promoting positive relationship dynamics as part of HIV prevention interventions for gay couples provides the opportunity to minimize the occurrence of broken agreements and, ultimately, reduce HIV risk.2

Relationship Characteristics Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior Among MSM in Committed Relationships

“…There is evidence, however, that the boundaries of sexual agreements change over time and can be broken, and that breaks often go undisclosed. 8,33,39 Thus, additional attention should be paid to longitudinal examinations of agreement breaks, whether agreements change over time, and what factors may be associated with disclosure of broken agreements. Among discordant couples, those who engage in UAI may increase HIV transmission risk for the HIV-negative partner.…”

“…Yet few models exist that MSM couples may use to navigate the disclosure of breaks when they happen. 13,21,[30][31][32][33] In addition, Interdependence Theory posits that men prioritize the needs of their relationship over their personal health when making decisions-which could make negotiation and/or disclosure of broken agreements even more difficult. 34,35 These complexities between individual and partner-level priorities highlight the need to examine the influence of relationship dynamics on sexual risk behavior in MSM couples.…”

Australian Gay Men’s Satisfaction with Sexual Agreements: The Roles of Relationship Quality, Jealousy, and Monogamy Attitudes

“…Most studies report no differences in relationship satisfaction (Blasband & Peplau, 1985;Bonello, 2009;Bricker & Horne, 2007;Kurdek, 1988;Ramirez & Brown, 2010), or in other factors such as dyadic adjustment (LaSala, 2004a;Wagner, Remien, & Carballo-Diéguez, 2000) and commitment (Blasband & Peplau, 1985;Hosking, 2013). In recent years, research efforts have progressed to examining motivations and other factors associated with establishing sexual agreements (Coelho, 2011;Mitchell, 2013;Mitchell, Harvey, Champeau, Moskowitz, & Seal, 2012;Pawlicki & Larson, 2011), rules associated with open agreements (Coelho, 2011;Gass, Hoff, Stephenson, & Sullivan, 2012;Hickson, Davies, Hunt, & Weatherburn, 1992;LaSala, 2004b;Mitchell, 2013), and associations between breaking agreement rules and low relationship quality (Gomez et al, 2012;Hosking, 2013;Mitchell, with each other. However, passion may be differentially associated with sexual agreement satisfaction depending on the type of agreement.…”

Technical Assistance Needs for Successful Implementation of Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) Intervention for Male Couples at US HIV Testing Sites

“…Prevention efforts have traditionally focused on MSM, in particular gay-identifying men, as individuals and have messaged the HIV risks associated with casual sex. Recent research findings have illustrated high rates of sexual risk behavior for HIV (with primary and casual partners), low rates of disclosure of potentially risky episodes with casual partners to primary partners, and reduced frequency of HIV testing among male couples [4][5][6]. In addition relationships may convey a misplaced sense of protection, to some degree created by the historical prevention focus on reducing numbers of sexual partners.…”