Interpartner Concordance on Relationship Quality and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Pregnant and Parenting Couples

Background This study examined agreement between partners on perceptions of relationship quality and its impact on later (sexually transmitted infection [STI]) diagnosis in a sample of pregnant (adolescents and young adults [AYAs]) couples. Methods Two hundred ninety-six AYA couples completed structured surveys on relationship quality (satisfaction, cohesion, consensus, affectional expression) and STI diagnosis. An actor-partner interdependence model was used to assess actor effects (whether an individual's perceived relationship quality influenced their getting STI), partner effects (whether a partner's perceived relationship quality influenced the individual getting an STI), and interactive effects (whether an individual's perceived relationship quality interacted with a partner's perceived relationship quality and influenced in the individual getting an STI). Results No significant actor or partner effects were observed for positive STI screen. However, there was a significant interaction between actor and partner satisfaction (B = -0.47, exp(B) = 0.63 [95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.93], P = 0.020). When actor satisfaction was high, greater partner satisfaction was associated with lower odds of a positive STI screen at 12 months. A significant interaction between actor and partner affectional expression was also found (B = -4.40, exp(B) = 0.01 [95% confidence interval, 0.00-0.87], P = 0.043). When partner affectional expression was high, greater actor affectional expression was associated with lower odds of a positive STI screen at 12 months. Conclusions Findings suggest that concordant reports of relationship satisfaction and affectional expression are protective against future STI risk. Strengthening romantic relationships may be a promising strategy for preventing STIs in pregnant/parenting AYA couples.