Relationship between sexual sensation seeking and risk sexual behaviors among young men who have sex with men

Abstract

To explore the association between sexual sensation seeking and risk sexual behaviors among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) who were under 25 years old. 403 YMSM were recruited through online publicity, organization of outdoor activities together with HIV voluntary counseling and testing services from May to November in 2013. A total number of 375 (93.05%) valid questionnaires were received. Data showed that, among the 375 YMSM, 37.9% had sex with men for the first time without using a condom, 55.7% had multiple sexual partners, 51.7% had one-night stand, and 5.6% engaged in group sex activities. Results from correlation analysis showed that sexual sensation seeking was positively correlated with four risk sexual behaviors (r = 0.247, 0.218, 0.296 and 0.252, respectively). Data from the Unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that YMSM with high sexual sensation seeking were more likely to engage in risk sexual behaviors. Sexual sensation seeking was associated with risk sexual behaviors among YMSM. More knowledge and behavior education based on the sexual sensation seeking should be emphasized, as well as increasing the awareness on HIV-related risk sexual behaviors.