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Predictors of Relationship Power Among Drug-Involved Women

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Abstract

Gender-based relationship power is frequently linked to women’s capacity to reduce sexual risk behaviors. This study offers an exploration of predictors of relationship power, as measured by the multidimensional and theoretically grounded sexual relationship power scale, among women in outpatient substance abuse treatment. Linear models were used to test nine predictors (age, race/ethnicity, education, time in treatment, economic dependence, substance use, sexual concurrency, partner abuse, and sex role orientation) of relationship power among 513 women participating in a multi-site HIV risk reduction intervention study. Significant predictors of relationship control included having a non-abusive male partner, only one male partner, and endorsing traditional masculine (or both masculine and feminine) sex role attributes. Predictors of decision-making dominance were interrelated, with substance use × partner abuse and age × sex role orientation interactions. Results contribute to the understanding of factors which may influence relationship power and to their potential role in HIV sexual risk reduction interventions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) U10 DA13035 (Edward V. Nunes and John Rotrosen, Co-PIs) and NIDA K24 DA022412 (Edward V. Nunes). The authors also wish to acknowledge the research staff, treatment program clinical staff, and participants who contributed their time and effort to make this study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Edward V. Nunes

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA

    Aimee N. C. Campbell & Susan Tross

  3. Department of Psychiatry, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Susan Tross

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Mei-chen Hu

  5. Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Martina Pavlicova

  6. Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 120, Room 3732, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Aimee N. C. Campbell

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  1. Aimee N. C. Campbell
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  2. Susan Tross
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  3. Mei-chen Hu
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  4. Martina Pavlicova
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  5. Edward V. Nunes
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Correspondence to Aimee N. C. Campbell.

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Campbell, A.N.C., Tross, S., Hu, Mc. et al. Predictors of Relationship Power Among Drug-Involved Women. AIDS Behav 16, 1532–1541 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0208-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0208-z

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