To this end, the present study examines health-related social control among gay male couples. Health-related social control refers to interactions between social network members, or in the present case partners, that involve explicit attempts to regulate and influence health behaviors. First, what kinds of social control tactics do gay partners use in their attempts to change each others' health-related behaviors? Second, do gay partners use different social control tactics for HIV-related behaviors and for other health-related behaviors in their attempts to change each others' behavior? Third, do constructs from interdependence theory, such as relationship interdependence and comparison level for alternatives (CL-alt), distinguish either the types of behaviors that gay partners target for change or the social control tactics that they use in attempts to change each others' health behaviors? Social control and influence tactic use among gay couples Using a mixed-methods approach that combined a qualitative approach with quantitative methods, the study addressed three questions. Previous research has found that social control is associated with the practice of fewer health-compromising behaviors and more health-enhancing behaviors.
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Research with married couples indicates that marital partners attempt to influence a variety of health practices, many of which are related to the prevention of disease and promotion of good health. In addition, spouses use a variety of social control tactics to influence their partners' health behaviors. The tactics that are viewed as most successful by marital partners may be best conceptualized as capitalizing on the interdependent and communal nature of intimate relationships, rather than the simple exercise of power. Particular styles of social control tactic use appear to be more effective than others.
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Previous work suggests that positive, direct and bilateral tactics are associated with health-enhancing behavior changes, while negative, indirect and unilateral tactics are not. To date, there are no studies of health-related social control conducted with gay couples.