Sustainability of Heterosexual Relationships among Adolescents and Young Adults: One-Year Observation of Bayview Hunter-Point Area in San Francisco, CA

Michiyo Yamazaki, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Jonathan Ellen, Johns Hopkins University

The objectives of this paper are: (1) estimating the odds of sustaining heterosexual relationships over six months among adolescents and young adults; and (2) assessing the effects of perceived partner types and reciprocity in partner nomination. Data: Bayview Network Study (CA), designed to examine the prevalence of STI risk behaviors and transmission patterns among adolescents (July 2000 - October 2001). A total of 667 respondents reported 1,732 heterosexual relationships at three surveys; over 90% were observed only once; and less than 5% sustained for longer than six months. Multivariate logistic regression yielded that respondents with main partners who reported their relationships were longer than six months at their survey entry had 4.6 times the odds of sustaining the relationship in the next six months compared to those who had shorter relationships (p<0.001). Reciprocal partner nomination increased twice the odds of sustaining the relationships in the next six months compared to unidirectional partner nomination (p<0.05).