Since 1990, the number of documented AIDS cases among U.S. adolescents has more than tripled; moreover, one-quarter of the new HIV infections in the U.S. are estimated to occur among youth between the ages of 13 and 20 (Office of National AIDS Policy 1996). Behaviors that put individuals at risk for exposure to sexually transmitted HIV, i.e., inconsistent condom use, multiple and concurrent sexual partners, necessarily occur within a relationship context. Yet, we know more about individual, family, peer and even neighborhood effects on adolescent and young adult risky sexual activities than about the influence of relationship qualities and experiences on sexual risk-taking and the management of HIV risk. Our proposed research builds on an in-depth study of adolescent heterosexual relationships, the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS). We emphasize the potentially important role of communication awkwardness, heightened emotionality, various types of asymmetries as well as the critical but subjective element of """"""""trust."""""""" A core theme is that experiences associated with gender, social class position, and minority status influence the course/contours of heterosexual dating and romantic relationships. Many of the relationship qualities we hypothesize may be linked with sexual risk-taking are not available in other well known longitudinal and panel data sets. ? ? We propose to follow-up these youths (n =1,316) as they experience a broader repertoire of relationship experiences, navigate key life transitions, and enter an age range that typically involves greater potential exposure to sexually transmitted HIV risk. We propose to conduct two additional waves of interviews with the TARS respondents, whose ages at the time of the proposed study would range from 17 to 23. We have two aims. First, identify the features of relationships that may influence variations in (a) management of sexual risk deriving from the partner's experiences/behaviors and (b) one's own involvement in risky sexual behavior. Second, examine distinct individual trajectories of involvement in high-risk sexual behaviors. We will focus attention on stability and changes from a ? particular pattern--both escalation and de-escalation are critical to consider. The findings from this project will lead to potential areas of social malleability in relationship choices and behaviors that can be incorporated into the design of more effective HIV prevention/intervention efforts. ? ?
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