Compulsive sexual behavior and risk for unsafe sex among internet using men who have sex with men

Abstract

The present study explored the relationship between compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) for men who have sex with men (MSM) across a number of ethnic/racial groups and who used the Internet to seek sexual partners. A sample of 2,716 MSM (512 Asian, 445 Black, 683 Latino, 348 Other, 728 White) completed on online survey that collected information about their sexual behaviors with partners met online and offline. The survey also included the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI). Consistent with the notion that CSB is a stable trait, higher scores on the CSBI were associated with greater odds for engaging in UAI, regardless of the context in which sex partners were met (online or offline). Differences in median CSB scores were generally similar across racial and ethnic groups. The median CSB score was significantly higher for HIV-positive participants than for HIV-negative participants. HIV-prevention interventions are needed among MSM, but should take into account that some may be resistant to risk reduction strategies because of CSB.

Fig. 1

Predicted probability of UAI by total CSB score percentile. Age set at median; sexual attraction, HIV-status, education, income, occupation, religiosity, marital status, child status, residence, and U.S. citizenship set at modal category. Asian and bi- or multiracial lines overlap. While the trend was the same for all racial/ethnic group, UAI for Latino online sexual partners was significantly lower (see Table 2)