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Aim 1: To explore how social conditions shape the sexual and drug-using norms and behaviors of African American men at risk of HIV acquisition and transmission.

Research Question 1.1 What macro-level determinants form and maintain the sexual risk normative behaviors described by the respondents?

Research Question 1.2 What sexual and substance-using subjective norms shape the HIV risk behaviors, including sexual exchange, described by the respondents?

Research Question 1.3 What patterned social arrangements shape the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and HIV risk behaviors of the respondents? Research Question 1.4 What are the demographic characteristics and sexual risk

behaviors of the study population?

Aim 2: To test the strength of the relationship between the composition and social support function of the African American male respondents’ personal networks and their sale of sex for drugs or money.

Composition of Social Network:

Research Question 2.1 To what extent is the composition of African American male respondents’ personal networks associated with the

reported sale of sex for drugs or money?

Hypothesis 2.1a African American male respondents with a higher

proportion of network alters with a history of incarceration are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a lower proportion of network alters with a history of incarceration.

Hypotheses 2.1b African American male respondents with a lower proportion of network alters who are employed are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a higher proportion of network alters who are employed.

Hypothesis 2.1c African American male respondents with a higher

proportion of network alters with whom they have shared drugs in the past six months are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male

respondents with a lower proportion of network alters with whom they have shared drugs in the past six months. Hypothesis 2.1d African American male respondents with a higher

proportion of network alters with whom they have had sex in the past six months are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male

respondents with a lower proportion of network alters with whom they have had sex in the past six months.

Social Support Function of Personal Network:

Research Question 2.2 To what extent is the social support function of the African American males’ personal networks associated with the reported sale of sex for drugs or money?

Hypothesis 2.2a African American male respondents with a lower proportion of perceived emotional support from network alters are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a higher

proportion of perceived emotional support from network alters.

Hypothesis 2.2b African American male respondents with a lower proportion of perceived instrumental support from network alters are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a higher

proportion of perceived instrumental support from network alters.

Hypothesis 2.2c African American male respondents with a lower proportion of perceived informational support from network alters are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a higher proportion of perceived informational support from network alters.

Hypothesis 2.2d African American male respondents with a lower proportion of perceived appraisal support regarding the

discontinuation of their drug use from network alters are more likely to report selling sex for drugs or money than African American male respondents with a higher proportion of perceived appraisal support regarding the discontinuation of their drug use from network alters.

Aim 3: To examine the relationship between dyad characteristics, social support function and unprotected sex among the African American male respondents’ and their nominated sexual partners.

Sub-Aim 3: Analytical Research Questions to Test Hypotheses

Research Question 3.1 To what extent is the type of sexual partnership within sexual partner dyads associated with reported unprotected sex?

Hypothesis 3.1a African American male respondents who describe their nominated sexual partners as primary sexual partners are more likely to report unprotected sex than African American male respondents who describe their nominated sexual partners as non-primary sexual partners.

Research Question 3.2 To what extent is drug use within sexual partner dyads associated with reported unprotected sex?

Hypothesis 3.2a African American male respondents who use drugs with their nominated sexual partners are more likely to report unprotected sex than African American male respondents who do not use drugs with their nominated sexual partners. Research Question 3.3 To what extent is the social support received from

nominated sexual partners associated with reported unprotected sex within sexual partner dyads?

Hypothesis 3.3a African American male respondents who consider their nominated sexual partners as a source of emotional support are more likely to report unprotected sex with these sexual partners than African American males who do not describe their sexual partners as a source of emotional support.

Hypothesis 3.3b African American male respondents who consider their nominated sexual partners as a source of instrumental support are more likely to report unprotected sex with these sexual partners than African American males who do not describe their sexual partners as a source of

instrumental support.

Hypothesis 3.3c African American male respondents who consider their nominated sexual partners as a source of informational support are more likely to report unprotected sex with these sexual partners than African American males who do not describe their sexual partners as a source of

informational support.

Hypothesis 3.3d African American male respondents who consider their nominated sexual partners as a source of appraisal support regarding discontinuation of respondent drug use are more likely to report unprotected sex with these sexual partners than African American males who do not describe their sexual partners as a source of appraisal support regarding discontinuation of respondent drug use

Sub-Aim 3: Exploratory Question to Generate Future Hypotheses

Research Question 3.4 To what extent is biological sex concordance within a sexual partner dyad associated with reported unprotected sex?