Table 4:

Summary of Reviewed Articles

Authors	Location/Time	Sample Description (M = Mean, SD = Standard Deviation) (1) Sample Size (2) Relationship Length (3) Age (4) Race (5) HIV Status	Dyadic Sample (Y/N)	Design/Method	Primary Aims or Primary Outcomes	Main Findings
Bartholomew et al. (2008)	British Columbia, Canada Time: Not Provided	(1) N =186 (2) Not Provided (3) M = 38.53 (SD = 9.44) (4) 45.7% British/English; 27.4% Other European; 17.8% Canadian; 6.5% Other; 2.7% Not specified (5) 73% HIV-negative; 21% HIV-Positive	No	Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Quantitative Survey & Qualitative Interviews Participant Recruitment: Digit-plus method (phone calls) (Secondary analysis)	Examining predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in male same-sex couples	Results from both quantitative and qualitative measures found attachment anxiety positively correlated in both directions of physical abuse and with perpetration of psychological abuse. Interview-based data on attachment avoidance was negatively associated with both directions of physical abuse and with receipt of psychological abuse. Self-reported avoidance was not significantly associated with both physical and psychological abuse. After controlling for abuse bidirectionality; interview ratings of anxiety were positively associated with psychological perpetration and interview ratings of avoidance were negatively associated with physical perpetration
Boesch et al. (2007)	Washington D.C. Time: Not Provided	(1) Time 1: 53 Couples (N=106); Time 2: 34 Couples (N=68) (2) Not Provided (3) M = 44.59 (SD = 10.36) (4) 89% White; 11% African American; 5% Other (5) Not Provided	Yes	Longitudinal (4-years) Mixed-Methods Quantitative Survey & Qualitative Interviews (in-person) Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; newspaper ads; professional referrals; word-of-mouth	Predicting current and future relationship satisfaction and commitment in gay male couples	Couples reports for current attachment was significantly correlated with T1 satisfaction, this correlation indicated that current attachment was related to T1 satisfaction for both dyads and individuals. Current attachment also predicted T2 satisfaction. Overall, this correlation indicated that current attachment was correlated with T2 satisfaction for dyads, but not significant for individuals. Current attachment predicting future commitment; self-reports of current attachment level correlated significantly with commitment at both T1 and T2. Overall, within dyads, the partner with the higher level of current attachment at T1 tended to be the more committed partner at T2.
Brown and Keel (2015)	Location: Not Provided Time: Not Provided	(1) N = 51 (2) Not Provided (3) M = 27.40 (SD = 9.09) (4) Not Provided (5) Not Provided	No	Longitudinal Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience sampling	Examined predictors of the drive for thinness	Relationship satisfaction at baseline predicted decreases in Drive for Thinness scores over 10 years. Relationship satisfaction was associated with reduced bulimic symptoms
Cooper et al. (2017)	Alabama and Arizona Time: Not Provided	(1) 81 couples (N =162); 58 lesbian couples (N = 116); 23 gay male couples (N = 46) (2) Gay male couples: M = 5.7 years (SD = 7.16) (3) M = 36.08 (SD = 11.84) (4) 76.1% White; 15.2% Hispanic or Latin American; 2.2% African American; 6.6% Other (5) Not Provided	Yes	Longitudinal (Daily Diary - 14 days) Mixed-Methods Quantitative Survey & Qualitative Daily Diary Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; online (listservs/social media); word-of-mouth	Exploring how daily sacrifice motives and attachment insecurity might predict relationship quality	Positive association between daily approach motives, and a negative association between avoidance motives, and relationship quality Approach motives were associated with greater relationship quality; avoidance motives associated with lower relationship quality -- moderated by gender -- women low in attachment insecurity and men high in attachment insecurity Men in high attachment anxiety reported higher relationship quality on days when they had more approach motives for sacrifices Men high in attachment avoidance reported lower relationship quality on days when they had more avoidance motives
Craft et al. (2008)	Midwestern metropolitan city Time: Not Provided	(1) N total =87; N = 41 (women); N = 46 (male) (2) M = 4.6 years (SD = 4.85) (3) M = 33.52 (SD = 8.97) (4) 56.5% White; 32.6% African American; 10.9% Other (5) Not Provided	No	Cross-sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Professional referrals; community outreach; newspaper advertisements	Examine the impact of attachment style and stress on the perpetration of IPV among same-sex partners	A relationship between perceived stress and the perpetration of violence was mediated by an insecure attachment style. Mediation model suggests that 43% of variance in perpetration of violence is explained by the relationship between stress and attachment style Psychological aggression was the most frequently reported form of relationship violence Insecure individuals are suggested to be more emotionally reactive to stress
Darbes et al. (2014)	San Francisco, CA Time: June 2005 - February 2007	(1) Time 1: 566 Couples (N = 1,132); Time 6: 291 Couples (N = 582) (2) M = 6.9 years (range = 0.25–48 years) (3) M = 42 (range = 18–83) (4) 47% Interracial; 45% White (5) 56% seroconcordant negative; 18% seroconcordant positive; 26% serodiscordant	Yes	Longitudinal Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Investigate relationship dynamics and psychosocial predictors of unprotected anal intercourse with outside partners of serodiscordant or unknown HIV serostatus as well as unprotected anal intercourse with primary partner in serodiscordant couples	Couples with greater relationship dynamics were less likely to engage in unprotected anal intercourse with an outside partner. For serodiscordant couples, higher attachment and intimacy reports were associated with greater likelihood of engaging in unprotected anal intercourse with a primary partner. Positive relationship dynamics exerted a greater influence on the couple as a whole as opposed to the individual partners. This suggests that as positive relationship dynamics increase, at the couple-level, the individual partners are less likely to report unprotected anal intercourse with an outside partner.
Elizur and Mintzer (2003)	Israel Time: Not Provided	(1) 108 couples (2) Not Provided (3) M = 32.0 (4) 89% Israeli; 8% North African or Asian; 3% Other (5) Not Provided	No	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Examined interpersonal factors as potential predictors of gay men’s relationship durability and satisfaction	Attachment security mediated the association of perceived friends support and self-acceptance with relationship quality Perceived support and acceptance provided by friends rather than family related to gay men’s attachment security and relationship quality Extreme versus balanced defensive attachment dispositions reported less relationship durability
Gabbay and Lafontaine (2017a)	Canada Time: Not Provided	(1) N total = 310; N = 203 (women); N = 107 (men) (2) M = 4.98 years (SD = 4.83) (3) M = 46.88 (SD = 12.46) (4) 25.1% White; 3.6% African American;6.3% Other (5) Not Provided	No	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Examined how dyadic trust and sexual intimacy mediates the relationship between insecure romantic attachment and perpetrated sexual violence occurring between same-sex intimate partners	Participants who reported higher scores on both attachment anxiety and/or attachment avoidance also had elevated scores on sexual same-sex intimate partner violence (SSIPV) perpetration Participants who were high on attachment anxiety and/or attachment avoidance also reported lower rates of dyadic trust and had lower sexual intimacy scores Using a serial mediation model; a positive relationship between attachment insecurity and perpetration of Sexual SSIPV mediated the relationship between both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance vis-à-vis sexual SSIPV perpetration
Gabbay and Lafontaine (2017b)	Canada Time: Not Provided	(1) N total = 310; N = 203 (women); N = 107 (men) (2) M = 4.98 years (SD = 4.83) (3) M = 46.88 (SD = 12.46) (4) 25.1% White; 3.6% African American;6.3% Other (5) Not provided	No	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Examining the relationship between the attachment system and same-sex intimate partner violence	Most consistent findings were positive associations between avoidance of intimacy and overall physical violence Zero-order correlations suggest that attachment insecurity and dysfunctional caregiving are both linked to perpetration and victimization of IPV Greater attachment avoidance was associated with increased incidences of physical violence perpetration Men in same-sex relationships who report high attachment avoidance may be more inclined to perpetrate physical IPV, compared to women.
Gamarel et al. (2014)	San Francisco, CA Time: Not Provided	(1) 116 Couples (N = 232) (2) M = 90.40 (SD = 93.54) (3) M = 46.70 (SD = 10.96) (4) 61.6% White; 16.8% Latino; 11.6% Black; 10.0% Other (5) 100% serodiscordant couples	Yes	Cross-Sectional Convenience Sampling Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Passive community recruitment and provider referrals	Examined the association between both partner’s perceived sexual satisfaction and cognitive interdependence with CAS among serodiscordant couples	HIV-positive partners’ perceptions of sexual satisfaction were negatively associated with the occurrence of PAI. HIV-negative partner’s perceptions of sexual satisfaction scores were positively associated with the occurrence of PAI HIV-positive partners who endorsed higher levels of autonomy were also at increased odds of engaging in protected sex HIV positive partners who endorsed higher scores on the IOS scale were at increased odds of engaging in protected sex HIV-positive partners’ perceptions of sexual satisfaction were negatively associated with abstinence from anal sex, compared with those who engaged in UAI
Gomez et al. (2012)	San Francisco, CA Time: 2005 to 2007	(1) 263 Couples (N=526) (2) Not Provided (3) Not Provided (4) Not Provided (5) 189 concordant HIV-negative couples & 74 HIV-discordant couple	Yes	Longitudinal Convenience Sampling Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Passive community-based recruitment	Examined the association between relationship factors and breaks in a couple’s sexual agreement	Members of couples with higher scores for commitment, mutual constructive communication, dependability, predictability, faith, and social support had lower odds of reporting a broken agreement.
Hoff et al. (2012)	San Francisco, CA Time: June 2005 - February 2007	(1) 566 couples (N = 1,132) (2) M = 6.9 years (range = 0.25–48 years) (3) M = 42 (range = 18–83) (4) 47% Interracial; 45% White; 5% Black; 3% Other (5) 56% seroconcordant negative; 18% seroconcordant positive; 26% serodiscordant	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Examined predictors of unprotected anal intercourse among MSM couples	Attachment and intimacy were associated with an increased likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse with primary partner Among concordant positive couples, greater perceived dependability of partner was associated with lower odds of unprotected anal intercourse with a primary partner. However, greater attachment was associated with higher odds of unprotected anal intercourse with a primary partner. Among discordant couples, greater attachment was associated with higher odds of unprotected anal intercourse with a primary partner
Mitchell et al. (2012)	Portland, OR & Seattle, WA Time: June - November 2009	(1) 144 couples (N = 288) (2) 58% with partner less than 5 years (3) M = 34.1 (SD = 8.4) (4) 95% Non-Hispanic; 85% White (5) 95% HIV-negative	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience sampling and peer recruitment. Passive community-based recruitment and e-mail list serves	Examined the association between relationship factors and characteristics with MSM having CAS with a casual partner.	Engaging in UAI with a secondary sex partner were negatively associated with commitment to a sexual agreement
Mitchell et al. (2012b)	Portland, OR & Seattle, WA Time: June - November 2009	(1) 144 couples (N = 288) (2) 58% with partner less than 5 years (3) M = 34.1 (SD = 8.4) (4) 95% Non-Hispanic; 85% White (5) 95% HIV-negative	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience sampling	Examined the association between relationship factors and planned condom use with a primary partner and with causal partners	Perceived social norms scores were lower for those who perceived they had lower quality of alternatives. Perceived behavioral control toward future condom use with the main partner was higher for those with higher relationship satisfaction. Attitude scores toward planned condom use with a secondary sexual partner were higher for those with more commitment to the relationship Behavioral control scores for planned condom use with a secondary sexual partner were lower among participants who had been in their current relationship for 2 years or less.
Mitchell (2014)	Location Not Provided Time: Summer 2011	(1) 275 Couples (N = 550) (2) M = 56.8 (SD = 61.9) (3) M = 31.4 (SD = 10.0) (4) 81% White; 6% Hispanic/Latino; 6% Mixed race; 3% African American; 4% Other (5) 100% HIV-negative	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience sampling and online advertisements	Identified factors associated with attitudes towards couples-based voluntary HIV/STI counseling and testing (CVCT)	Positive attitudes toward using CVCT were associated with couples who had higher scores on relationship satisfaction, viewed their partner as being dependable for trustworthiness, had faith in their partner for being trustworthy, and communicated constructively. Less positive attitudes toward using CVCT were associated with couples who had been in their relationship longer than the sample’s average relationship duration and among those couples who had higher scores of communication by avoidance and withholding. Greater differences between the partners regarding attitudes towards using CVCT were associated with greater differences in valuing their sexual agreement.
Mohr et al. (2013)	Washington D.C. Time: Not Provided	(1) 188 couples (N = 415) (2) M = 6.41 years (SD = 5.76) (3) M = 36.54 (SD = 9.49) (4) 85.4% White; 2.8% Hispanic/Latino(a); 2.7%; Black/African American; 5.8% Other (5) Not Provided	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Investigate links between romantic attachment and relationship functioning	APIM analysis - Attachment insecurity in both self and partner were linked with poor relationship functioning (satisfaction, commitment, trust, communication, and problem intensity) Monogamy was positively associated with relationship quality only when participants or their partners reported moderate or high levels of attachment anxiety -- Non-monogamy was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and commitment when self or partner anxiety levels were moderate or high (actor effects) Actor Anxiety was positively related to partner Avoidance -- people with high attachment anxiety are more like than others to be with partners who are high in avoidance Own avoidance level was linked with lower trust and poorer communication processes, whereas partner avoidance was linked with less aversive communication
Newcomb and Mustanski (2016)	Chicago, IL Time: Not Provided	(1) N = 114 (2) Not Provided (3) M = 18.53 (SD = 1.21) (4) 48.4% Black, 18.9% White, 12.3 % Hispanic, 9% Other (5) Not Provided	No	Longitudinal Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience sampling and peer recruitment	Examine the developmental change in relationship characteristics and condomless anal intercourse (CAI)	Relationship characteristics (i.e., large age differences and experiences of IPV) were associated with greater rates of condomless anal intercourse. Associations between relationship characteristics and CAI increased in strength as younger men developed and moved into late adolescence and emerging adulthood. A desire or need for the relationship to last, feeling “trapped”, and power differences was associated with higher rates of CAI
Passarelli and Vidotto (2016)	Italy Time: Not Provided	(1) N =177 (2) Not Provided (3) M = 28.52 (SD = 9.6) (4) Not Provided (all participants were Italian, but no demographic breakdown provided) (5) Not Provided	No	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; snowballing sample	Predictors of sexual and sentimental relationships among gay men	Participants reporting high avoidance tend to be less interested in relationships characterized by closeness, trust, and emotional intimacy Participants high in anxiety reported a greater desire for uncommitted sex compared to avoidance A weak but significant effect for those reporting high attachment anxiety was associated with greater desirability of casual sex
Ramirez and Brown (2010)	Australia Time: Not Provided	(1) N = 135 (2) M = 4.9 years (SD = 6.29) (3) M = 36.44 (SD = 10.60) (4) Not Provided (5) Not Provided	No	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept; listservs; online and newspaper advertisements	Characteristics of open and closed relationships among Gay men	Gay men in open relationships were not more avoidantly attached compared to gay men in closed relationships. Attachment styles did not have a relationship on the decision to have open or closed relationships Gay men with established rules and guidelines regarding their open relationship were more likely to report being satisfied with their relationship compared to men with no rules.
Starks and Parsons (2014)	New York City and Los Angeles Time: Not Provided	(1) 172 Couples (N = 344) (2) M = 72.61 months (SD = 72.93) (3) M = 38.57 (SD = 9.39) (4) 60.5% White; 20.1% Latino; 12.8% Other; 6.7% African American (5) 86% HIV-negative/unknown; 12.2% HIV-Positive	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept	Evaluate the associations between attachment patterns and unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners and relationship quality with main partner	Securely attached individuals reported the highest levels of sexual communication Avoidantly attached men reported significantly more casual unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) partners, and an increased number of UAI partners Adult attachment style suggested being relevant to the sexual lives, sexual safety, and relationship quality of partnered gay men.
Starks et al. (2014)	San Francisco, CA Time: Not Provided	(1) 91 Couples (N = 182) (2) M = 98.41 months (SD = 95.0) (3) M = 46.9 (SD = 10.3) (4) 61.0% White; 17.6% Latino; 11.5% Black; 9.9% Other (5) 100% serodiscordant relationships	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Passive recruitment; participant and provider referrals	Examined how relational factors are associated with sexual risk taking and strategic positioning as well as unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) within serodiscordant same-sex male couples	Only HIV-negative partners’ reports of relationship commitment were positively associated with the odds of engaging in strategic positioning UAI vs. no UAI HIV-negative partners’ reports of sexual satisfaction and intimacy were negatively associated with engaging in risk taking vs. no UAI. HIV positive partners’ reports of sexual satisfaction were positively associated with engaging in risk taking vs. no UAI A higher level of sexual satisfaction among HIV-negative partners was associated with a lower likelihood of engaging in risk behavior vs. strategic positioning.
Starks et al. (2015)	Chicago, IL Time: 2007 – 2012	(1) N = 219 (n = 117 male) (2) Not Provided (3) M = 18.8 (SD=1.49) (4) 56.6% Black; 16.4% Other/Multiracial; 13.7% White; 13.2% Latino/a (5) Not Provided	No	Longitudinal Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Venue-based; street-intercept	Early adolescent peer and parental attachment are associated with general mental health and relationship quality in later adolescence and early adulthood	Those who reported dating initiation at age 15 + reported significantly higher parental attachment scores compared to those reporting dating initiation at age 14 or younger. Participants who reported an average relationship length of 13 months + also reported higher peer attachment on average compared to those who reported an average relationship length of a year or less. High levels of parental and peer attachment in early adolescence was associated with lower average global severity index scores in later adolescence and young adulthood Mediational Pathways - Neither peer nor did parental attachment have a significant direct effect on relationship adjustment scores.
Starks et al (2017)	US National Sample Time: December 2011 - February 2013	(1) 128 Couples (N = 256) (2) M = 58.1 months (SD = 72.3) (3) M = 32.6 (SD = 10.6) (4) 67.2% White; 13.3% Latino; 12.5% Other; 7% Black/African American (5) 84% HIV-positive; 16% HIV-negative	Yes	Cross-Sectional Quantitative Survey-Based data collection Participant Recruitment: Convenience Sampling, passive community based & targeted online recruitment	Explore associations among intimacy development, relationship satisfaction, and depression among same-sex male couples	Higher levels of EPSI Intimacy were associated with lower reported depression scores. Men with higher relationship satisfaction and those whose partners were more satisfied had lower depression scores. Relationship satisfaction had an indirect effect on intimacy and depression at the actor and partner levels.