Safer sex in social context: Individualistic and relational determinants of AIDS-preventive behavior among gay men

This longitudinal study of gay men examined safer sex within steady\nrelationships and assessed whether relationship quality influenced safer\nsex with casual partners. The theoretical frameworks of Rusbult's (1980)\ninvestment model of romantic relationships and of Ajzen's (1988, 1991)\nmodel of planned behavior were used. Unprotected intercourse with a\nsteady partner was practiced significantly more often when both partners\nin a steady relationship were seronegative and had an explicit agreement\nto keep it safe with casual partners. However, there was no indication\nthat explicit agreements reduced the occurrence of unsafe\nextrarelational sex. Both the investment model of romantic relationships\nand the model of planned behavior were successful in accounting for\nsexual risk behavior outside the relationship.