Assessing gender stereotypes and sexual risk practices in men who have sex with men

Objectives The purpose of the present study was to examine associations between life stress and incarceration history in relation to sexual health risk practices among a sample of cisgender Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Deep South. Methods: Using data from a sample of 355 cisgender Black MSM in Mississippi and Georgia, multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between life stress and sexual risk practices. In addition, we assessed whether stress may interact with experiences of incarceration to influence sexual health risk practices. Results: After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, stress was associated with some sexual risk practices (e.g. alcohol and drug use during sex and group sex). Further, when an interaction with incarceration was assessed, among participants who had been incarcerated, high compared with low levels of stress were associated with alcohol use during sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.11–9.99, P < 0.001), drug use during sex (aOR 3.92, 95% CI 1.79–8.60, P < 0.001), condomless sex with casual partners (aOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.31–6.12, P < 0.001), having six or more casual partners (aOR 2.77, 95% CI 1.09–7.06, P = 0.02) and participating in group sex (aOR 5.67, 95% CI 2.07–15.51, P < 0.001). Stress and incarceration produced a dose–response effect for each association; similar associations with stress were not observed among men who had not been incarcerated. Conclusions: Among people with experiences of incarceration, there are several possible ways our findings could be applied practically, including through safer sex and stress management interventions designed specifically for Black MSM following their release.

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Taking into account the nature of casual sex: New methodologies of sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e524372011-017 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

W. Van den Boom ◽

I. G. Stolte ◽

U. Davidovich

Keyword(s):

Risk Behavior ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Sexual Risk Behavior ◽

Casual Sex ◽

New Methodologies ◽

Sex With Men

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Gender role conflict among African American men who have sex with men and women: associations with mental health and sexual risk and disclosure behaviors.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.717965377.793466439 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Wizdom Powell

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

African American ◽

Gender Role ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Role Conflict ◽

Gender Role Conflict ◽

African American Men ◽

Men And Women ◽

Sex With Men

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Longitudinal Event-Level Sexual Risk and Substance Use among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3183

Author(s):

Jordan M. Sang ◽

Zishan Cui ◽

Paul Sereda ◽

Heather L. Armstrong ◽

Gbolahan Olarewaju ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Health Study ◽

Anal Sex ◽

Study Objective ◽

Condomless Anal Sex ◽

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Negative

(1) Background: Condomless anal sex and substance use are associated with STI risk among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Our first study objective was to describe event-level sexual risk and substance use trends among gbMSM. Our second study objective was to describe substances associated with event-level sexual risk. (2) Methods: Data come from the Momentum Health Study in Vancouver, British Columbia and participants were recruited from 2012–2015, with follow-up until 2018. Stratified by self-reported HIV status, we used generalized estimating equations to assess trends of sexual event-level substance use and assessed interactions between substance use and time period on event-level higher risk sex defined as condomless anal sex with an HIV serodifferent or unknown status partner. (3) Results: Event-level higher risk anal sex increased across the study period among HIV-negative/unknown (baseline prevalence: 13% vs. study end prevalence: 29%) and HIV-positive gbMSM (baseline prevalence: 16% vs. study end prevalence: 38%). Among HIV-negative/unknown gbMSM, event-level erectile drug use increased, while alcohol use decreased over the study period. Overall, interactions between substance use and time on higher risk anal sex were not statistically significant, regardless of serostatus. However, we found a number of time-specific significant interactions for erectile drugs, poppers, Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy/MDMA use among HIV-negative/unknown gbMSM. (4) Conclusion: Significant differences in substance use trends and associated risks exist and are varied among gbMSM by serostatus. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of event-level substance use on sexual risk through longitudinal follow-up of nearly six years.

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