Who’s cheating? Agreements about sexual exclusivity and subsequent concurrent partnering in Australian heterosexual couples
Juliet Richters A F , Wendy Heywood B , Marian K. Pitts B , Julia M. Shelley C , Judy M. Simpson D , Kent Patrick B and Anthony M. A. Smith B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.
D School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
E Deceased.
F Corresponding author. Email: j.richters@unsw.edu.au
Sexual Health 11(6) 524-531 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14031
Submitted: 11 February 2014 Accepted: 19 August 2014 Published: 9 October 2014
Abstract
Background: Concurrent relationships are a driver of generalised epidemics of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). In Australia, explicit negotiation of agreements about sex outside regular relationships has been recommended in health promotion for gay men but not for heterosexuals. Objective: To ascertain the annual incidence of concurrency among people in ongoing male–female relationships according to their reported expectations of exclusivity. Methods: In a national cohort recruited by household random digit dialling in 2004–05, people aged 16–64 years completed computer-assisted telephone interviews including questions about expectations of sexual exclusivity, discussion and agreements. A year later, those in ongoing sexual relationships (5323 people) were asked about sexual partner numbers in the past year. Results: The huge majority (96%) expected sexual exclusivity of themselves and their partner. However, only 48% of men and 64% of women had discussed the matter and explicitly agreed. Older respondents were less likely to report discussion. Only 1% reported mutually nonexclusive (‘open’) relationships. A year later, 93% of respondents were still in the same relationship, among whom 4% of men and 2% of women had had sex outside the relationship. Those with agreements that one or both partners could have sex with others were more likely to do so, but the majority of respondents who had sex with someone else were in relationships that were explicitly or implicitly expected to be exclusive. Conclusions: Sexual health promotion should stress the importance of STI testing and establishing agreements about exclusivity before condoms are abandoned in new relationships.
Additional keywords: condom use, extradyadic sex, infidelity, monogamy, open relationships.
References
[1] Watts CH, May RM. The influence of concurrent partnerships on the dynamics of HIV/AIDS. Math Biosci 1992; 108 89–104.| The influence of concurrent partnerships on the dynamics of HIV/AIDS.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK387pvFOjsw%3D%3D&md5=9cc031ae4100277815acf8d47f15813aCAS | 1551000PubMed |
[2] Morris M, Kretzschmar M. Concurrent partnerships and the spread of HIV. AIDS 1997; 11 641–8.
| Concurrent partnerships and the spread of HIV.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2s3mt1KlsA%3D%3D&md5=86868d4ff554806d3c247b76b0c2f681CAS | 9108946PubMed |
[3] Aral SO. Sexual network patterns as determinants of STD rates: paradigm shift in the behavioral epidemiology of STDs made visible. Sex Transm Dis 1999; 26 262–4.
| Sexual network patterns as determinants of STD rates: paradigm shift in the behavioral epidemiology of STDs made visible.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M3msVSksQ%3D%3D&md5=93bce1ccb6ef51438ba863058849790fCAS | 10333278PubMed |
[4] Morris M, Kurth A, Hamilton D, Moody J, Wakefield S. Concurrent partnerships and HIV prevalence disparities by race: linking science and public health practice. Am J Public Health 2009; 99 1023–31.
| Concurrent partnerships and HIV prevalence disparities by race: linking science and public health practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19372508PubMed |
[5] Mah TL, Shelton JD. Concurrency revisited: increasing and compelling epidemiological evidence. J Int AIDS Soc 2011; 14 33
| Concurrency revisited: increasing and compelling epidemiological evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21689437PubMed |
[6] Michael RT, Gagnon JH, Laumann EO, Kolata G. Sex in America: a definitive survey. New York: Warner; 1995.
[7] Scott J. Changing attitudes to sexual morality: a cross-national comparison. Sociology 1998; 32 815–45.
| Changing attitudes to sexual morality: a cross-national comparison.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[8] Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA. Sex in Australia: attitudes toward sex in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 118–23.
| Sex in Australia: attitudes toward sex in a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696701PubMed |
[9] The Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA). AuSSA data. Canberra: Australian National University; 2012. Available online at: http://aussa.anu.edu.au/data.php [verified 25 August 2014].
[10] Horin A. We’re a broadminded lot, most of us. Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 2003; p. 6.
[11] Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Bonas DM, Martinson FEA, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR. Concurrent sexual partnerships among women in the United States. Epidemiology 2002; 13 320–7.
| Concurrent sexual partnerships among women in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11964934PubMed |
[12] Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Taylor EM, Khan MR, Schwartz RJ. Concurrent partnerships, nonmonogamous partners, and substance use among women in the United States. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 128–36.
| Concurrent partnerships, nonmonogamous partners, and substance use among women in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20724694PubMed |
[13] Johnson AM, Mercer CH, Erens B, Copas AJ, McManus S, Wellings K, et al Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours. Lancet 2001; 358 1835–42.
| Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MjgtVCmtw%3D%3D&md5=1e3b40ecde11ae45c30d7d4426b17ab3CAS | 11741621PubMed |
[14] Smith AMA, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO. Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 106–17.
| Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE. Sex in Australia: heterosexual experience and recent heterosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 146–54.
| Sex in Australia: heterosexual experience and recent heterosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696705PubMed |
[16] Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA. Sex in Australia: selected characteristics of regular sexual relationships. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 124–30.
| Sex in Australia: selected characteristics of regular sexual relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696702PubMed |
[17] Blow AJ, Hartnett K. Infidelity in committed relationships I: a methodological review. J Marital Fam Ther 2005; 31 183–216.
| Infidelity in committed relationships I: a methodological review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15974058PubMed |
[18] Blow AJ, Hartnett K. Infidelity in committed relationships II: a substantive review. J Marital Fam Ther 2005; 31 217–33.
| Infidelity in committed relationships II: a substantive review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15974059PubMed |
[19] Smith AMA, Pitts MK, Shelley JM, Richters J, Ferris J. The Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships. BMC Public Health 2007; 7 139
| The Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Boily M-C, Alary M, Baggaley RF. Neglected issues and hypotheses regarding the impact of sexual concurrency on HIV and sexually transmissible infections. AIDS Behav 2012; 16 304–11.
| Neglected issues and hypotheses regarding the impact of sexual concurrency on HIV and sexually transmissible infections.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21279678PubMed |
[21] Gaydosh L, Reniers G, Helleringer S. Partnership concurrency and coital frequency. AIDS Behav 2013; 17 2376–86.
| Partnership concurrency and coital frequency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23695523PubMed |
[22] Conley TD, Moors AC, Ziegler A, Karathanasis C. Unfaithful individuals are less likely to practice safer sex than openly nonmonogamous individuals. J Sex Med 2012; 9 1559–65.
| Unfaithful individuals are less likely to practice safer sex than openly nonmonogamous individuals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22463058PubMed |
[23] Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Report 2: Take-up and use of voice services by Australian consumers . 2009–10 Communications report series. Canberra: ACMA; 2010.
[24] Dunne M. Sex surveys: what does it mean when thirty to forty percent don’t participate? Venereology 1998; 11 33–7.
[25] Alexander MG, Fisher TG. Truth and consequences: using the bogus pipeline to examine sex differences in self-reported sexuality. J Sex Res 2003; 40 27–35.
| Truth and consequences: using the bogus pipeline to examine sex differences in self-reported sexuality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12806529PubMed |
[26] Fisher TD. Sex of experimenter and social norm effects on reports of sexual behavior in young men and women. Arch Sex Behav 2007; 36 89–100.
| Sex of experimenter and social norm effects on reports of sexual behavior in young men and women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17187217PubMed |
[27] Allen ES, Atkins DC, Baucom DH, Snyder DK, Coop Gordon K, Glass SP. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors in engaging in and responding to extramarital involvement. Clin Psychol Sci Pract 2005; 12 101–30.
| Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors in engaging in and responding to extramarital involvement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] Crawford JM, Rodden P, Kippax S, Van de Ven P. Negotiated safety and other agreements between men in relationships: risk practice redefined. Int J STD AIDS 2001; 12 164–70.
| Negotiated safety and other agreements between men in relationships: risk practice redefined.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3os1Knuw%3D%3D&md5=0e0a15aee86ed8ef0cf492388478936dCAS | 11231869PubMed |
[29] Hull P, Holt M, Mao L, Kao S-C, Prestage G, Zablotska I, et al. Gay community periodic survey: Sydney February 2011. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales; 2011. Available online at: https://csrh.arts.unsw.edu.au/media/CSRHFile/GCPS_2011_Sydney_February_Report.pdf [verified 25 August 2014].
[30] Mackie B. Report and process evaluation of the talk test test trust… together HIV/AIDS education campaign. Sydney: AIDS Council of NSW; 1996.
[31] Crawford JM, Rodden P, Kippax S, Van de Ven P. Negotiated safety and other agreements between men in relationships: risk practice redefined. Int J STD AIDS 2001; 12 164–70.
| Negotiated safety and other agreements between men in relationships: risk practice redefined.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3os1Knuw%3D%3D&md5=0e0a15aee86ed8ef0cf492388478936dCAS | 11231869PubMed |
[32] Kippax S, Crawford J, Davis M, Rodden P, Dowsett G. Sustaining safe sex: a longitudinal study of a sample of homosexual men. AIDS 1993; 7 257–63.
| Sustaining safe sex: a longitudinal study of a sample of homosexual men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3s3itFOgsw%3D%3D&md5=8f68a58368e0cd40b235b8f94ff50c8cCAS | 8466689PubMed |
[33] Kippax S, Noble J, Prestage G, Crawford JM, Campbell D, Baxter D, et al Sexual negotiation in the AIDS era: negotiated safety revisited. AIDS 1997; 11 191–7.
| Sexual negotiation in the AIDS era: negotiated safety revisited.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2s7ot1ehtA%3D%3D&md5=591953434a53d03436de433fd0de1279CAS | 9030366PubMed |
[34] Ridge D. Negotiated safety: not negotiable or safe? Venereology 1996; 9 98–100.
[35] Wolcott I, Hughes J. Towards understanding the reasons for divorce. Working Paper 20. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies; 1999.
[36] Amato PR. The consequences of divorce for adults and children. J Marriage Fam 2000; 62 1269–87.
| The consequences of divorce for adults and children.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[37] Amato PR. Research on divorce: continuing trends and new developments. J Marriage Fam 2010; 72 650–66.
| Research on divorce: continuing trends and new developments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[38] Rodgers B, Gray P, Davidson T, Butterworth P. Parental divorce and adult family, social and psychological outcomes: the contribution of childhood family adversity. Social Policy Research Papers (no. 42). Canberra: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; 2011.
[39] De Visser RO, Smith AMA, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE. Sex in Australia: safer sex and condom use among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 223–9.
| Sex in Australia: safer sex and condom use among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696715PubMed |
[40] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australia’s health 2010. Australia’s health series. Canberra: AIHW; 2010.
[41] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Risse CE, Richters J. Sex in Australia: sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 234–41.
| Sex in Australia: sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696717PubMed |
