Relationship commitment and condom use in young adults: Initial results from the Project on Partner Dynamics

Past research has consistently shown that condom use is less likely within ongoing relationships than within casual partnerships (e.g., Anderson, 2003; Misovich et al., 1997). Rather than being more careful in sexual relations with a more well-known partner, the available evidence suggests that the opposite is the case: one's physical defenses appear to drop. However, the theoretical underpinnings regarding why this is so remain unarticulated and largely unexplored. We propose that one particular psychological variable, relationship commitment, helps to account for differential rates of condom use in different kinds of partnerships. More specifically, we hypothesized that greater levels of commitment (defined as intending to remain in a relationship, having a long-term perspective, and feeling psychological attachment to a partner) lead to lower rates of condom use. We tested our hypothesis with data derived from in-person interviews with 204 young men and women (aged 18-30, primarily Latino and African American) from the Los Angeles area who met criteria for being at risk for HIV/STIs. Above and beyond a number of important control variables (including gender, race, cohabitation status, number of lifetime sexual partners, ever having a sexually transmitted disease, perceived risk of pregnancy, and current use of oral contraception by self or partner), relationship commitment was found to be a negative, significant predictor of condom use over the preceding 4 months. Our results will be discussed in the context of an overall model of commitment processes, with implications for a greater understanding of not only condom use but also relationship power.