Deconstructing the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual HIV Risk Among Drug-Involved Men and Their Female Partners

Abstract

This study, based on data from a random sample of 322 men on methadone, examines whether traditional male gender role beliefs, male substance use, and couple drug-involvement lead to male psychological dominance, which in turn leads to perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual HIV risk behavior. Structural equation modeling indicated that male psychological dominance is directly associated with perpetrating both physical IPV and sexual HIV risk; however, physical IPV did not lead to sexual HIV risk as predicted originally. Stronger endorsement of traditional male gender role beliefs was associated with male psychological dominance. Couple drug-involvement was also directly associated with male psychological dominance as well as sexual HIV risk. Male substance use led to couple drug-involvement, but not to physical or sexual HIV risk as hypothesized. Study findings highlight the significance of couple drug-involvement and male psychological dominance as pathways leading to physical IPV and sexual HIV risk behavior. Implications for HIV prevention efforts targeting drug-involved men and their sexual partners are discussed.