Back to Search
Start Over
Relationship Characteristics and Contraceptive Use Among Young Adults.
- Source :
- Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health; Jun2011, Vol. 43 Issue 2, p119-128, 10p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Young adults have high rates of unintended childbearing and STDs, yet little research has examined the role of relationship characteristics in their contraceptive use. Data collected from the 2002-2005 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth yielded a sample of 4,014 dating relationships among sexually active 18-26-year-olds. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic and multinomial logistic regressions assessed associations between relationship characteristics and contraceptive use at last sex. In three-quarters of the relationships, respondents had used some method at last intercourse; respondents in 26% of the relationships had used a condom only, in 26% a hormonal method only and in 23% dual methods. Compared with respondents in relationships in which first sex occurred within two months of starting to date, those who first had sex before dating were more likely to have used any method at last sex (odds ratio, 1.4), particularly condoms or dual methods (relative risk ratio, 1.5 for each). The relative risk of using a hormonal method only, rather than no method or condoms only, increased with relationship duration (1.01) and level of intimacy (1.1-1.2). Discussing marriage or cohabitation was associated with reduced odds of having used any method (0.7) and a reduced relative risk of having used condoms alone or dual methods (0.6 for each). Increasing levels of partner conflict and asymmetry were also linked to reduced odds of any method use (0.97 and 0.90, respectively). Prevention programs should address relationship context in contraceptive decision making, perhaps by combining relationship and sex education curricula to foster communication and negotiation skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ANALYSIS of variance
COMMUNICATION
CONDOMS
CONTRACEPTION
STATISTICAL correlation
DATING (Social customs)
DECISION making
EPIDEMIOLOGY
INTIMACY (Psychology)
MATHEMATICAL models
MULTIVARIATE analysis
NEGOTIATION
ORAL contraceptives
RESEARCH funding
HUMAN sexuality
STATISTICS
COUPLES
LOGISTIC regression analysis
THEORY
DATA analysis
SECONDARY analysis
RELATIVE medical risk
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15386341
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 61140238
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1363/4311911