BACKGROUND: Most studies of sexual behavior and risk are based on self-reports of individuals. GOAL: The goal of this study was to assess interpartner concordance on self-reported sexual behavior, condom use, and relationship characteristics; and agreement between individuals' perceptions of their partners' sexual risks and the partners' actual reports. STUDY DESIGN: Interviews were conducted separately but concurrently with 112 heterosexual couples at increased risk for HIV/sexually transmitted infections recruited through women at clinics and community locations. RESULTS: Couples were concordant on reports of relationship characteristics (kappa > or = 0.84), sexual behavior, and condom use (r > or = 0.62), but disagreed on who has more power and sexual decision-making dominance (kappa < or = 0.26). We found substantial agreement between men's perceptions and their partners' reported risky behavior (kappa = 0.62), but only fair agreement between women's perceptions and their partners' reports (kappa = 0.30). CONCLUSION: Individual self-reports could be reliable measures of sexual behavior. Additionally, prevention interventions need to address women's misperceptions about their partners' risky behaviors.
BACKGROUND: Most studies of sexual behavior and risk are based on self-reports of individuals. GOAL: The goal of this study was to assess interpartner concordance on self-reported sexual behavior, condom use, and relationship characteristics; and agreement between individuals' perceptions of their partners' sexual risks and the partners' actual reports. STUDY DESIGN: Interviews were conducted separately but concurrently with 112 heterosexual couples at increased risk for HIV/sexually transmitted infections recruited through women at clinics and community locations. RESULTS: Couples were concordant on reports of relationship characteristics (kappa > or = 0.84), sexual behavior, and condom use (r > or = 0.62), but disagreed on who has more power and sexual decision-making dominance (kappa < or = 0.26). We found substantial agreement between men's perceptions and their partners' reported risky behavior (kappa = 0.62), but only fair agreement between women's perceptions and their partners' reports (kappa = 0.30). CONCLUSION: Individual self-reports could be reliable measures of sexual behavior. Additionally, prevention interventions need to address women's misperceptions about their partners' risky behaviors.
Authors: Diana M Sanchez; Victor J Schoenbach; S Marie Harvey; Jocelyn T Warren; Charles Poole; Peter A Leone; Adaora A Adimora; Christopher R Agnew Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Stewart C Alexander; J Dennis Fortenberry; Kathryn I Pollak; Truls Østbye; Terrill Bravender; James A Tulsky; Rowena Dolor; Cleveland G Shields Journal: Clin Pediatr (Phila) Date: 2015-04-09 Impact factor: 1.168
Authors: Deborah Jones; Gary Marks; Olga Villar-Loubet; Stephen M Weiss; Christine O'Daniels; Craig B Borkowf; Cathy Simpson; Ada A Adimora; Eleanor McLellan-Lemal Journal: Int J Sex Health Date: 2015-10-23
Authors: Deborah L Jones; Maria Lopez; Hannah Simons; Marleny Diaz-Gloster; Jonathan N Tobin; Stephen M Weiss Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 3.046