Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39992776›Full record

Trial reportHealth psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association2025

Randomized controlled trial of a relationship education and HIV prevention program for young male couples: Biomedical and behavioral outcomes.

Michael E Newcomb, Gregory Swann, Elizabeth L Addington, Kathryn Macapagal, Judith T Moskowitz, Elissa L Sarno, Sarah W Whitton, Brian Mustanski

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Michael E NewcombDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.ORCID 0000-0002-8431-2946
Gregory SwannInstitute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University.
Elizabeth L AddingtonDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.
Kathryn MacapagalDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.
Judith T MoskowitzDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.
Elissa L SarnoDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.
Sarah W WhittonDepartment of Psychology, University of Cincinnati.
Brian MustanskiDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University.

Funding

Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS)UL1TR001422 · NCATS · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI D'AQUILA, RICHARD · 2015 to 2023
$56.8M
Efficacy of Couples-Based HIV Prevention in Vulnerable Young MenR01AA024065 · NIAAA · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI NEWCOMB, MICHAEL E · 2016 to 2020
$2.8M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001422NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA024065
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study evaluated the efficacy of the 2GETHER relationship education and HIV prevention program for young male couples in reducing the risk for HIV.

methodWe conducted a randomized controlled trial of 2GETHER relative to an attention-matched and highly active positive affect enhancement program for couples. We randomized 128 young male couples (N = 256) to 2GETHER or control from 2017 to 2021. Primary biomedical outcome (i.e., rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea) was measured at baseline and 12 months and self-reported condomless anal sex was measured every 3 months across 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were other HIV prevention and risk behaviors, relationship functioning, and substance use. We used multilevel models in MPlus to account for clustering with dyads and within-person change over time. Effects of time (for self-reported outcomes) were modeled using latent growth curves at the between-couple level.

resultsWe observed no differences between conditions in outcomes, but there was a significant change in outcomes across 12 months. Rates of rectal sexually transmitted infections and self-reported condomless anal sex decreased significantly in both conditions. We also observed significant increases in HIV testing, improvement in relationship communication, and reduction in alcohol-related problems in both conditions across 12 months.

conclusionCouples in both the 2GETHER and positive affect enhancement programs showed improvement in biomedical and behavioral indicators of HIV risk, as well as improvement in relationship communication, but without a treatment effect we cannot conclude improvement resulted from the interventions. Couple-based programs that promote connectedness, including relationship education and positive affect enhancement, have a strong potential to reduce young couples' HIV risk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsInterpersonal RelationsSexual BehaviorSexual PartnersAdolescentAdultHumansMaleRisk-TakingYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39992776
PMCPMC11879251

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.