Non-parental Adults and Sexual Health Behaviors Among Young Minority Men: A Qualitative Examination

Young Black and Latino sexual minority men (YBLSM) exhibit disproportionately high rates of negative sexual health outcomes, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, compared to other groups, partly due to relatively higher rates of exposure to a host of socio-structural risk factors (e.g., unstable housing and under-employment). However, an under-studied interpersonal resource exists for many YBLSM, non-parental adults (NPAs, i.e., adults who act as role models and provide social support), who may be able to influence contextual (e.g., unemployment) and individual (e.g., reduced health expectations) factors underlying sexual health disparities.Aims: This study sought to examine the role of NPAs in factors that affect sexual health behaviors and in supporting those health behaviors directly, among YBLSM living in a mid-sized city in the southern United States. A total of n=20 participants, n=10 YBLSM (ages 16 to 22), and n=10 NPAs (ages 26 to 52) were interviewed using semi-structured guides to examine NPA involvement in the lives of YBLSM from both sides of the relationship. The research team used a framework analysis approach to iteratively identify and define meaningful codes and sub-codes. Both YBLSM and NPAs described NPAs helping YBLSM through role modeling and social support in a variety of areas found to affect sexual health behaviors, such as housing instability and psychological distress, as well as in specific behaviors, such as condom use and HIV medication adherence. Given the multiple socio-structural obstacles facing YBLSM and their multifaceted relationships with NPAs, NPAs may be a promising resource to help address these impediments to health. Partnering more intentionally with NPAs is a potentially promising strategy to help reduce HIV-related disparities affecting YBLSM that is worthy of additional empirical attention.

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Sex in Late Life: Assessing Adults’ Expectations and the Role of Healthcare Professionals

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 313-313

Author(s):

Jill Naar ◽

Raven Weaver ◽

Shelbie Turner

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Late Life ◽

Sexual History ◽

Growth Curve Models ◽

The Us ◽

Sexual Health Behaviors ◽

The Life Course

Abstract Sexual activity contributes to quality of life throughout the lifespan. However, stigma about sex in late life influences older adults’ perceptions and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of older adults’ sexual health/behaviors. Using a multi-methods approach, we examined attitudes and knowledge about sexual health/behaviors in late life. Using longitudinal data from the Midlife in the US Study (Wave 1-3; N=7049), we ran age-based growth curve models to analyze changes in levels of optimism about sex in their future. We also piloted a survey with healthcare professionals assessing attitudes, knowledge, and awareness of policy about sexual health/behaviors among older adults. Adults’ expectations became less optimistic with increased age (β = -0.1, SE = 0.003, p < .0001). Men were more optimistic than women at age 20 (p = 0.016), but men’s optimism decreased over the life course at a faster rate than did women’s (p < .0001), so that from ages 40-93, men were less optimistic than women. Among healthcare professionals (N=21), the majority indicated never or rarely asking their clients about sexual history or health/behaviors; however, they indicated some knowledge about issues relevant to older adults (e.g., safe-sex practices, sexual dysfunction). Few indicated awareness about policies related to sexual behavior among residents (i.e., issues of consent, STIs). Among adults, there is a need to address declining optimism for expectations about sex in late life. Health professionals are well-situated to raise awareness and normalize discussions about sexual health, thus countering negative stigma and contributing to increasing optimism for expectations to remain sexually active.

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Sexual health behaviors of Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) users

Disability and Health Journal ◽

10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.06.005 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 579-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Erica Heiman ◽

Sharon Haynes ◽

Michael McKee

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

American Sign Language ◽

Sign Language ◽

American Sign ◽

Sexual Health Behaviors

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Evidence-Based Approaches to HIV-Positive Sexual Minority Men’s Sexual Health

Handbook of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Sexual and Gender Minorities ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780190669300.003.0015 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 339-358

Author(s):

Audrey Harkness ◽

Steven A. Safren

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Future Research ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Minority Men ◽

State Of Research

This chapter reviews the current state of research and theory regarding evidence-based sexual health interventions for HIV-positive sexual minority men. Among HIV-positive sexual minority men, sexual health promotion includes reducing sexual behavior that could lead to HIV transmission, increasing adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) medication to attain viral load suppression, and addressing psychosocial and contextual factors that impact both of these health behaviors. The chapter reviews evidence-based behavioral approaches to promote sexual minority men’s sexual health, including those focused on increasing condom use, reducing sexual risk, and improving communication about HIV status. It also discusses interventions to improve ART adherence, which promote HIV-positive sexual minority men’s personal health and serve as a secondary prevention intervention via reducing transmissibility. The chapter concludes with an illustration of an evidence-based intervention with an HIV-positive client. Overarching clinical implications and areas for future research regarding HIV-positive sexual minority men’s sexual health are also discussed.

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Sexual Health Behaviors, Preferences for Care, and Use of Health Services Among Adolescents in Pediatric Emergency Departments

Pediatric Emergency Care ◽

10.1097/pec.0b013e31829ec244 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 907-911 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Melissa K. Miller ◽

Michelle Pickett ◽

Kelsee Leisner ◽

Ashley K. Sherman ◽

Sharon G. Humiston

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Emergency Departments ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Sexual Health Behaviors ◽

Preferences For Care ◽

Use Of Health Services

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Behavioral Intentions to Use Patient Portals to Disclose HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Histories with Sexual Partners Among U.S. Sexual Minority Men

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-020-03092-w ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kevon-Mark Jackman ◽

Derek T. Dangerfield ◽

Cui Yang ◽

Maria Trent ◽

Hadi Kharrazi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Minority ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infection ◽

Behavioral Intentions ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Patient Portals ◽

Transmitted Infection ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Minority Men

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Improving body image and sexual health behaviors among college women

Journal of American College Health ◽

10.1080/07448481.2018.1454927 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 (8) ◽

pp. 826-830 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephanie L. Grossman ◽

Bianca Campagna ◽

Hadley Brochu ◽

Meline Odermatt ◽

Rachel A. Annunziato

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

College Women ◽

Sexual Health Behaviors

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Venturing beyond the “Behavioural MSM”: Sex, Chems, & Satisfaction in their Syndemic Contexts

10.35198/01-2019-002-0003 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Steady Partner ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Minority Men

BACKGROUND: The health and well-being of those sexual-minority men who are often behaviourally defined as men who have sex with men (MSM) is affected by a system of interlinked factors that interact on the structural, interpersonal, and individual levels. Recently, two of the most common MSM health issues have been (a) the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mostly HIV, and (b) the sexualized use of addictive substances, known as chemsex. AIMS: On the basis of the first comprehensive Czech dataset to integrate several mutually interlinked factors on the behavioural, as well as the psychological and structural domains, we attempt to shed light on the barriers to HIV testing and adherence to safer sex practices, including the most thorough description of the chemsex phenomenon that is available. We aim to go beyond the behavioural perspective and draw links to the well-being and satisfaction of this sexual minority and their sex lives. METHODS: A series of descriptive statistical analyses was conducted on a sample of 547 respondents obtained within a self-administered online survey. RESULTS: More than half of our respondents (55%) and three-quarters (72%) of the men younger than 25 years have never been tested for HIV. One-third of the respondents considered testing services to be insufficiently friendly to gay, bisexual, or other men, and they also reported stigmatization and discrimination by healthcare workers as a problem that exists. 84% of the MSM have experience with anal sex; 43% of them always use condoms. Of all the respondents, nearly 6% have had at least one chemsex experience during their life. Only 46% of the MSM reported being satisfied with their sex lives; 52% of those who were dissatisfied attributed this to “not having a steady partner” and 49% to “not having any sex”. CONCLUSION: The sexual behaviour of MSM and their experience with HIV testing, chemsex, perceived stigma, and satisfaction with their sex lives are among the phenomena that deserve to be more regularly covered by relevant epidemiological examinations. Although our current analysis was more exploratory than in-depth, it may contribute to a better understanding of the syndemic and multifactorial conditions that influence the sexual behaviour of MSM, including the minority stress that may be rooted in deficiencies in our understanding of these populations.

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Sexual Behaviors and HIV/STI Prevention Strategies Among Sexual Minority Men in Ecuador Who Use Geosocial Networking Apps

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-021-02093-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Hermosa-Bosano ◽

Clara Paz ◽

Paula Hidalgo-Andrade ◽

Rodrigo Aguayo-Romero

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Sti Prevention ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽

Geosocial Networking ◽

Minority Men ◽

Geosocial Networking Apps

AbstractAround the world, geosocial networking apps have become widely popular among sexual minority men (SMM). This research analyzed the sexual behaviors and HIV and STI prevention strategies (HIV/STI testing, HIV/STI inquiry, and HIV/STI disclosure) of an online-recruited sample of 284 SMM living in Ecuador. Sexting and oral sex were the most common sexual behaviors among SMM in the sample. Most participants had low perceptions of HIV and STI risk; 85% reported being tested for HIV and 70% for STIs. Being older predicted higher odds of being tested for either HIV or STIs at least once. Being single also predicted HIV testing. Future interventions in the country should explore apps’ utility as intervention tools to spread information about sexual health and HIV prevention strategies, such as condom use and event-driven PrEP. Apps can also facilitate connections to sexual health services, including programs for PrEP initiation and linkage to HIV treatment. They should also focus on promoting sexual harm reduction conversations among potential app-met sexual partners.

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