P2-S1.16 Social influences on relationship fidelity and concurrency patterns among Latino adolescents in San Francisco

Abstract

BackgroundOur previous research in San Francisco's Mission District, a predominantly Latino neighbourhood characterised by high immigration, poverty, and gang-related violence, highlighted diverse partnership patterns among youth and the role of gang affiliation in high-risk sexual activity and pregnancy. 38% of Latino youth reported concurrent partnerships.MethodsWe conducted 33 semi-structured in-depth interviews with immigrant and US-born male and female Latino youth aged 16–21 to explore how the social environment affected partnership formation and STI risk. Participants were recruited from community venues; interviews were conducted in Spanish or English. Interview transcripts were coded in Atlast.ti. We analysed the following themes: relationship fidelity; STI prevention; and concurrency norms (agreement with the statement, Many Mission youth in a relationship are also seeing someone on the side).ResultsParticipants were 48% female; had a mean age of 17.5 years; and 55% were immigrants from Mexico or Central America. 27 of 30 believed that concurrency is widespread, described as “cheating” (having a “main girl with ‘friends with benefits’ on the side”) or resulting from initiating new relationships before ending existing ones or between serial break-ups with a main partner. Infidelity was motivated by machismo, a cultural notion of masculinity that was heightened for men respected for having multiple partners; boredom with a single partner; an ideal that fidelity was only relevant within marriage with cheating expected prior to that; and revenge for known, suspected or pre-emptive cheating. Street gangs introduced distinct reasons for young males preferring multiple, casual partnerships: limited time for relationships because of obligations to the gang first and foremost; disinterest in committed relations to avoid emotional vulnerability given emotional demands of street life; and multiple partners bringing status: “you got more game; you got more reputation.” Young women recognised that having partners in a gang brought social prestige and articulated strategies for increasing intimacy (eg, pregnancy) to draw partners away from the street and strengthen commitment to the relationship. Despite a perception of pervasive concurrency, STI risk perception was low.ConclusionsMany relationship norms and expectations held by youth supported concurrency, highlighting the importance of addressing social influences like gangs in STI prevention.

Yo Puedo—A Conditional Cash Transfer and Life Skills Intervention to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health: Results of a Randomized Feasibility Study in San Francisco

“…Male gang involvement has been associated with perpetration of partner violence (15), inconsistent condom use, increased number of partners, and sexual concurrency (16–18). Our past research also found that having a male partner in a gang increased pregnancy incidence among teen females (16) and that gang norms promoted partner concurrency and substance use as signs of masculinity (12). …”

“…Furthermore, gang membership may be aligned with culturally-based masculinity norms that can lead to hyper-masculinity among young males (11), thereby increasing sexual risk-taking. In underserved neighborhoods with widespread community violence, the presence of street gangs constitutes a dominant influence on adolescents’ social norms and individual behaviors (12–14). Male gang involvement has been associated with perpetration of partner violence (15), inconsistent condom use, increased number of partners, and sexual concurrency (16–18).…”

Defining Healthy Intimate Relationships: A Qualitative Pilot Study of Rural Hispanic Women

“…Having a trusted partner is important in adolescent Hispanic relationships (Laborde et al, 2014). On the other hand, infidelity was common in relationships with Hispanic youth (Minnis and Van Dommelen-Gonzalez, 2011). Hispanic women appear to expect and tolerate some infidelity in their dating relationships, but fidelity became more important once married (Mclellan-Lemal et al, 2013).…”

Social Network Recruitment for Yo Puedo: An Innovative Sexual Health Intervention in an Underserved Urban Neighborhood—Sample and Design Implications

“…In many economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, street gangs constitute a prominent feature of the social environment and assume tremendous influence over social norms and individual behaviors (Voisin et al 2011; Minnis and vanDommelen-Gonzalez 2011; Marcus 2009). Gang affiliation offers social identity, friendship, protection, and an economically viable direction for some youth with limited socioeconomic opportunities (Kyriacou et al 1999; Bennett et al 2002).…”

“…Gang-related neighborhood violence has been associated with perpetration of partner violence (Reed et al 2009) and engagement in risky sex behaviors such as inconsistent condom use, increased number of partners, and partnerships that overlap in time (Voisin et al 2004; Crosby et al 2004; Wingood et al 2002). We have found that having a male partner in a gang increased pregnancy incidence among female adolescents by 90% (Minnis et al 2008) and that gang norms promoted partner concurrency and substance use as signs of masculinity (Minnis and vanDommelen-Gonzalez 2011). …”