A Dyadic Perspective on Sexual Agreements Among Same-Sex Male Couples in the United States

Sexual agreements are an important HIV risk reduction strategy enacted by men in male–male partnerships. Greater levels of relationship quality have been associated with sexual agreement formation and adherence. However, current evidence supporting the associations between relationship quality and sexual agreements for male dyads is based primarily on the responses of just one partner. Understanding that relationship quality and decisions about sexual agreements are inherently influenced by both partners, the present analysis uses dyadic-level data to examine the sexual agreements among 199 HIV serodiscordant and seroconcordant male dyads (n = 398 individuals). Specifically, the analysis examines measures of love, trust, and conflict style as they relate to (1) the type of agreement established, (2) concordance in agreement reporting, (3) satisfaction with the agreement, and (4) broken agreements. A discrepancy in love between partners was associated with the type of agreement established, whether they reported the same agreement type, and whether one of the partners reported a broken agreement, but it was not associated with either partner’s satisfaction with the agreement. A discrepancy in trust was associated with agreement concordance and agreement breaks, but it was not associated with the type of agreement established or satisfaction with the agreement. Lastly, a discrepancy in conflict style was associated with each of the agreement outcomes. Future research and intervention efforts should focus on understanding the behavioral and communication skills necessary for couples to make successful sexual agreements.