The authors of the current study explored the role of closeness of sexual partners to family and friends (i.e., how well the participant's family and friends knew the participant's primary sex partner) to a variety of relationship and sexual behavior measures.

Family and friend closeness, relationship intimacy, length of sexual relationship and condom use were assessed in 151 females ages 14-17.

Bivariate correlations showed that integration of the sexual partner into the family and friend networks was related to greater relationship intimacy. A number of measures, including relationship intimacy and increased family closeness, was associated with lowered condom use. The researchers conducted a path analysis to assess for direct and indirect effects of family closeness, friend closeness, length of relationship, and relationship intimacy on condom use. Social network closeness in family and friend networks was implicated in lowered condom use through higher relationship intimacy within adolescent dyads.

"Social network theory is useful in understanding adolescent health-related behavior. In particular, the integration of adolescent sexual partners into both family and friend networks is related to the expression of adolescent sexual behavior," the researchers concluded.

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