JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Across a range of studies, health scientists have found that being in a romantic relationship can have positive and negative influences on one’s health. A couple’s health outcomes are often influenced by relationship quality – or how one perceives the positive or negative character of their relationship. These findings have important implications for how scientists and interventionists may leverage romantic relationships facilitating good health among couples. However, in general, couples research has not included Black same-sex male couples (BSMCs) in large enough numbers so that previous studies’ findings are relevant to them. This represents a gap in the scientific literature and, more important, a missed opportunity to understand how romantic relationships influence health for a group that must navigate distinct, multilevel health and social inequities.

Objective:

This study aims to (a) decode and understand the ways in which BSMCs express their romantic relationships in virtual contexts via symbolic indicators, (b) determine how BSMCs describe the quality of their romantic relationships, and (c) examine how BSMCs make meaning of their relationship quality and its impact on their relational and individual health.

Methods:

We will use joint dyadic interviews embedded within a symbolic netnography research design to accomplish our aims. We will use grounded theory to analyze our qualitative data. We will then triangulate our findings using Farmer and colleagues’ triangulation protocol to determine how well they answer our research questions.

Results:

This study received ethical approval on October 8, 2020 and we began data collection in November 2020. This study is ongoing and we expect results to be available no later than the end of 2022.

Conclusions:

This study will apply novel symbolic netnographic qualitative methods to further our understanding of BMSCs’ romantic relationships and how they contribute to BSMM’s health. The findings will be used to develop programs to improve BMSCs’ health in community and virtual settings. It may also be used to influence policy that advocates for BSMM’s health.