Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
09:55
Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Published on: December 25, 2016
Measuring sex partner concurrency: it's what's missing that counts
Sara J Nelson1, Lisa E Manhart, Pamina M Gorbach
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
|June 7, 2007
Summary
Measuring sex partner concurrency is crucial for understanding STI transmission. Direct questioning is more reliable and has less missing data than overlapping dates for computer-administered surveys.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Sex partner concurrency significantly influences STI transmission dynamics.
- Standardized measurement of concurrency is lacking, hindering accurate epidemiological analysis.
- Accurate measurement is essential for effective STI prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess agreement between two common measures of sex partner concurrency.
- To compare correlates and investigate data quality of different concurrency measures.
- To determine the most appropriate method for measuring concurrency in young adults.
Main Methods:
- A computer-administered survey interviewed 680 young adults (ages 18-26) at STD clinics.
- Concurrency was measured using a direct question and by analyzing overlapping relationship dates.
- Data were collected between 2001 and 2004 in Seattle, St. Louis, and New Orleans.
Main Results:
- Agreement between the direct question and overlapping dates measures was only fair (kappa = 0.395).
- Significant discrepancies existed: 29% reporting concurrency by direct question did not by dates, and 26% vice versa.
- The direct question had substantially less missing/uninterpretable data (1.8%) compared to overlapping dates (21.3%).
Conclusions:
- Both measures indicated common concurrency, but they are not interchangeable.
- The direct question method is more robust due to lower missing data rates.
- Direct questioning is recommended for computer-administered surveys assessing sexual partner concurrency.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Equivalent Couples
In mechanical engineering, the concept of equivalent couples plays a crucial role in understanding and analyzing various mechanical systems.
Two couples are considered to be equivalent if they produce the same rotational effect on a rigid body. In other words, the two couples have the same magnitude and act in the same direction, causing the same angular displacement or acceleration in the body.
For instance, consider two couples lying in the plane of the page, with one having a pair of equal...
Two couples are considered to be equivalent if they produce the same rotational effect on a rigid body. In other words, the two couples have the same magnitude and act in the same direction, causing the same angular displacement or acceleration in the body.
For instance, consider two couples lying in the plane of the page, with one having a pair of equal...
01:29Reliability and Validity
Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
01:43Sex Linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:28Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity
Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
01:09Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test for Matched Pairs
The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for matched pairs evaluates the null hypothesis by combining the ranks of differences with their signs. It essentially tests whether the median of the differences in a population of matched pairs is zero. Since the test incorporates more information than the sign test, it generally yields more trustable conclusions. This test also does not require the data to follow a normal distribution, but two conditions must be met for it to be applicable: (1) the data must...