Abstract
Increasingly more men who have sex with men (MSM) are engaging in sexual risk taking in China in recent years. Given the high rates of HIV infection among MSM in China, it is urgent that we understand the factors that influence MSM's practice of sexual risk taking. Disgust sensitivity, which elicits a behavioral avoidance response, has the potential to influence risky sexual behavior. The present study examined the relationship between disgust sensitivity and sexual risk behavior among MSM in China. Men (n = 584) who reported having anal intercourse in the previous 6 months were recruited from the Internet. Two indicators of sexual risk behaviors were measured: condom use and the number of sex partners. The results indicated that moral disgust was positively associated with condom use, with MSM who had higher moral disgust being more likely to use condoms than others did. Sexual disgust was positively associated with the number of sex partners, with MSM who had higher sexual disgust having fewer male sex partners than others did. Sexual and moral disgust sensitivity significantly predicted HIV testing. Our study verified that sexual and moral disgust suppressed sexual risk behaviors and promoted HIV testing. Moral and sexual education should be incorporated in future strategies for HIV prevention and encouragement of safe sex behaviors among MSM in China.
Highlights
Sexual Risk Behavior among MSM in ChinaThe proportion of men infected with HIV/AIDS is growing rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China
Compulsive sexual behavior was positively associated with HIV risk behaviors (Miner et al, 2007), which means that MSM with more compulsive sexual behaviors tend to have more sex partners and high rates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI, Benotsch et al, 1999)
In China, whose culture is strongly influenced by Confucianism and whose government has given a profound lack of attention to MSM, internalized homophobia (Choi et al, 2008) and a lack of coping skills (Liao et al, 2011) are strong factors correlate with UAI with casual sex partners, and thereby increase the probability of risky sexual behavior
Summary
The proportion of men infected with HIV/AIDS is growing rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Compulsive sexual behavior was positively associated with HIV risk behaviors (Miner et al, 2007), which means that MSM with more compulsive sexual behaviors tend to have more sex partners and high rates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI, Benotsch et al, 1999). In the case of HIV infection, MSM with high disgust sensitivity might engage in fewer unsafe sexual behaviors, such as having casual sex with multiple partners. Individuals with high levels of sexual disgust tend to dislike casual sex, multiple sex partners, and short time intervals between sexual intercourse; they are less likely to have sex with potential mates whose health status and personal hygiene are unknown. We assumed that MSM in China who have high levels of sexual disgust will use fewer short-term mating strategies, decreasing the rates of risky sexual behaviors. Based on the above information and previous studies, we hypothesized that disgust sensitivity would be an important predictor of the suppression of sexual risk behavior
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