Open AccessIndividual and Relationship Predictors of Couple-Level Sexual Concurrency in Heterosexual South African Couples
Author(s) -
Jennifer M. Belus,
Donald H. Baucom,
Wendee M. Wechsberg
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
archives of sexual behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.288
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1573-2800
pISSN - 0004-0002
DOI - 10.1007/s10508-019-1444-3
Subject(s) - concurrency , psychology , sexual behavior , heterosexuality , developmental psychology , path analysis (statistics) , clinical psychology , social psychology , homosexuality , computer science , psychoanalysis , operating system , machine learning
One of the major goals of couple-based HIV prevention programs in sub-Saharan Africa is to reduce outside sex partners, known as sexual concurrency. This cross-sectional study examined sexual concurrency at the couple-level and differentiated couples based on whether neither, one, or both partners engaged in sexual concurrency over the past 6 months. Individual predictors (alcohol use and lifetime history of physical or sexual trauma) and relationship predictors (mistrust, relationship inequity, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction) were used as predictors of couple-level sexual concurrency. A quantitative investigation using path analysis was carried out with data collected from 286 South African heterosexual couples. Results showed that alcohol use for both sexes, relationship dissatisfaction for women, and mistrust among women were predictive of different types of sexual concurrency. Findings suggest that consideration of the experiences and behavior of both partners may be useful in understanding different reasons for engagement in sexual concurrency.