Peer Influence on IPV by Young Adult Males: Investigating the Case for a Social Norms Approach

When Worlds Collide: Linking Involvement with Friends and Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood

Recent increases in the average age at first marriage have created an extended period during which young adults frequently continue to socialize with friends, even as romantic ties typically become increasingly serious. Nevertheless, little research has focused on some of the challenges associated with navigating these two social worlds simultaneously. The current study expanded the traditional lens of social learning theory to investigate associations between a range of attitudes and behaviors of friends and a serious form of conflict-intimate partner violence (IPV). Analyses relied on structured survey and in-depth interview data from a longitudinal study of a large, diverse sample of male and female respondents followed across the adolescent to adult transition (n = 928). Consistent with prior work, friends' IPV experience was significantly associated with respondents' own IPV perpetration. Yet the social learning perspective we developed highlighted the importance of considering a broader portfolio of friends' characteristics. Controlling for friends' IPV experience and family background: (a) involvement with friends perceived as more liberal in their attitudes toward dating and sexuality and (b) friends' delinquent behavior were both associated with the odds of reporting IPV. Further, longitudinal analyses showed an effect of variability in friends' delinquency on within-individual changes in IPV across the full study period, suggesting that the association is not due solely to an underlying antisocial propensity. In-depth interviews with a subset of respondents (n = 102) corroborate these results, further illuminate underlying mechanisms, and highlight the dynamic aspects of these forms of social involvement during young adulthood.

Gender norms and social norms: differences, similarities and why they matter in prevention science

Two streams of theory and practice on gender equity have begun to elide. The first is work conducted to change social norms, particularly using theory that emerged from studies in social psychology. The second is work done on gender norms, emerging historically from feminist scholars working to counter gender inequality. As these two streams of work intersect, conceptual clarity is needed to understand differences and similarities between these two traditions. Increased clarity will improve efforts to address harmful norms and practices. In this article, we review similarities and differences between social and gender norms, reviewing the history of the concepts and identifying key tension points of contrast. We identified six areas of comparison that might be helpful for practitioners working for the promotion of global health as they make sense of social and gender norms. We then offer a definition of gender norms for practitioners and researchers working at the intersection between these two theories. Our definition draws from the two different streams of thought of how norms influence people's actions, acknowledging the double nature of gender norms: beliefs nested in people's minds and embedded in institutions that profoundly affect health-related behaviours and shape differential access to health services.

Birth Cohort and Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Age of First Oral and Anal Sex Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men

Earlier age of first sex has potential direct and indirect health effects later in life. Though there are multiple nationwide general population studies on ages of first sex, there is no such nationwide study of first male-male oral or anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM). This may be important for understanding racial/ethnic disparities in HIV and sexually transmitted infection acquisition among young racial/ethnic minority MSM. Our study examined the birth cohort and racial/ethnic differences in ages of first male-male oral and anal sex using a diverse 2015 U.S. nationwide sample of 10,217 sexually active MSM. The mean age of first male-male oral sex was 18.0 years. Compared with older birth cohorts, those MSM born 1990-2000 were more likely to have younger age of first male-male oral sex. Compared to white MSM, Hispanic MSM and non-Hispanic black MSM were more likely to have younger age of first male-male oral sex with a man. The mean age of first male-male anal sex was 20.3 years. Compared with older birth cohorts, those MSM born 1990-2000 were more likely to have younger age of first male-male anal sex. Compared to white MSM, MSM of all other racial/ethnic groups were more likely to have younger age of first male-male anal sex. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive and MSM-inclusive sexual health education for young teens and online sexual health resources for young gay, bisexual, queer, and other MSM.