Predictors of Concurrent Sexual Relationships among Young Males in the U.S.

Michiyo Yamazaki, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Frangiscos Sifakis, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Jacinda K. Dariotis, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Nan M. Astone, Johns Hopkins University
Joseph H. Pleck, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Freya Sonenstein, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The study used data from multiple waves of National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM), and examined concurrent heterosexual relationships among young males in series of cross-sectional analyses. The study first examined the correlates of concurrent relationships using respondents who had been sexually experienced at each wave among those who participated in all three waves (N=1,290), and then repeated the analysis using respondents participated at each wave (N1988=1,880, N1991=1,676, and N1995=1,377). The results showed a consistent trend that number of sex partners was a single factor associated with ever having concurrent relationship status, and its association persisted over time. Respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics (Black, and lived with 1 step parent at age 14) showed significant association with concurrent relationships at later waves. These results suggested concurrent relationships at earlier stage of males’ life were explained by behavioral factors, and race and living environment at age 14 became important as they age.