Correlates of high-risk sexual behavior among young men who have sex with men

Michael G. Dudley, Sharon Scales Rostosky, Bethe A. Korfhage, Rick S. Zimmerman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

Data from a sample (n = 154) of young men who have sex with men (YMSM), aged 13-21, residing in five mid-sized cities in the midwestern United States were used to test the hypothesis that personality variables (impulsive decision making, sensation seeking, anxiety/depression, internalized homophobia) contribute uniquely to the prediction of unprotected anal sex beyond what is accounted for by other high-risk behaviors (i.e., substance use and number of sex partners) and partner status (having a dating partner). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that number of reported anal sex partners and partner status were positively associated with self-reported frequency of unprotected anal sex. Beyond these factors, impulsive decision making significantly contributed to the predictive model. These findings indicate that designing effective prevention programming for YMSM should take into consideration relationship status and the impulsiveness of sexual decision making among members of the target group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)328-340
Number of pages13
JournalAIDS Education and Prevention
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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