Young Americans, the Unmarried and Blacks Are Most Likely to have had Multiple Partners in the Past Year

Parental family characteristics and behavioral risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases in males

“…Similarly, others have found 9% and 13 % (Hollander, 1993) of respondents reporting multiple partners in the past year. However, large studies conducted in high-risk geographic areas have found that 24% (Binson et al, 1993) and 37% (Dolcini, Coates, Catania, Kegeles, & Hauck, 1995) of respondents reported having had multiple partners in the past year.…”

“…The number of sexual partners long has been recognized as a critical factor in the determination of relative exposiu'e to STDs. An individual who has had any type of sexual contact (oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse) with more than one person is considered to have had "multiple partners" (Dolcini et al, 1993, p. 208), and to be at heightened risk of infection with an STD Ericksen & Trocki, 1992;Hollander, 1993).…”

“…Previous studies have documented the correlations between gender, age, and marital status with the number of sex partners. Males consistently report higher numbers of partners than do females (Hollander, 1993;Marin et al, 1993;Messiah, Pelletin, & the ACSF Group, 1996;Sabogai et al, 1993;Santelli et al, 1998;Smith, 1991). It has been suggested that gender differences in numbers of partners may be, in part, a reflection of over-reporting by males and under-reporting by females, according to what the dominant culture traditionally has deemed appropriate behavior (Lauritsen & Swicegood, 1997;Peterson et al, 1993;Rosenberg, Gurvey, Adler, Dunlop, & Ellen, 1999).…”

“…It has been suggested that gender differences in numbers of partners may be, in part, a reflection of over-reporting by males and under-reporting by females, according to what the dominant culture traditionally has deemed appropriate behavior (Lauritsen & Swicegood, 1997;Peterson et al, 1993;Rosenberg, Gurvey, Adler, Dunlop, & Ellen, 1999). Greater numbers of partners are reported by younger respondents, particularly those in their 20s, than by older respondents (Hollander, 1993;Leigh et al, 1993;Marin et al, 1993;Peterson etal., 1993;Smith, 1991).…”

“…Not surprisingly, married respondents consistently report having fewer sexual partners than those who are not married (Binson et al, 1993;Hollander, 1993;Kost & Forrest, 1992;Leigh et al, 1993;Peterson et al, 1993;Smith, 1991;Somse, Chapko, & Hawkins, 1993). Information about the association of race and of education with numbers of partners has been less clear.…”