Validation of the Polish Problematic Tinder Use Scale and Its Relationship with Safe Sex Behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: Online dating is a common phenomenon. The manageability and access of the application allows people to quickly reach many potential partners, which can increase risky sexual behaviors. The Problematic Tinder Use Scale (PTUS) was developed and validated in a Polish population by analyzing the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the responses given by Polish-speaking participants. METHODS: Two samples of adult Tinder users were recruited online. The first study aimed to perform the reliability coefficient Cronbach's, interrater analysis, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analysis. The second sample was recruited to investigate the factor structure by combining it with the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire (SSBQ). The sociodemographic data, such as hours of use and number of dates, were also investigated. RESULTS: The Polish participants' responses to the PTUS (sample 1: N = 271, sample 2: N = 162) revealed the one-factor structure of the tool. The reliability of the measurement was α = 0.80. The construct validity was confirmed. The results showed a significant, negative, and weak correlation between the PTUS and SSBQ scores and their subscales: risky sexual behaviors (r = -0.18), condom use (r = -0.22), and avoidance of body fluids (r = -0.17). Moreover, the number of partners met in the real world had a statistically significant, moderate relationship with the PTUS scores. CONCLUSIONS: The PTUS measurement is valid and reliable for the Polish population. The findings highlight the need for harm prevention strategies related to potentially addictive Tinder use, as well as the possible risky sexual behaviors associated with dating app use.

HIV Prevention and Sex Behaviors as Organizing Mechanisms in a Facebook Group Affiliation Network Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Online social networking sites (SNS)-the Internet-based platforms that enable connection and communication between users-are increasingly salient social environments for young adults and, consequently, offer tremendous opportunity for HIV behavioral research and intervention among vulnerable populations like young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Drawing from a cohort of 525 young Black MSM (YBMSM) living in Chicago, IL, USA April 2014-May 2015, we conducted social network analysis, estimating an exponential random graph model (ERGM) to model YBMSM's group affiliations on Facebook in relation to their sex behaviors and HIV prevention traits. A group's privacy setting-public, closed, or secret-was also modeled as a potential moderator of that relationship. Findings reveal that HIV positive individuals were more likely to affiliate with Facebook groups, while those who engaged in group sex were less likely to do so. When it came to the privacy of groups, we learned that HIV positive individuals tended not to belong to groups with greater privacy (e.g., closed and secret groups), while individuals who engaged in group sex and those who engaged in regular HIV testing were more likely to belong to those groups. Results also showed that individuals who engaged in condomless sex showed significant signs of clustering around the same set of groups. HIV positive individuals, on the other hand, were significantly less likely to demonstrate clustering. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.

Reproductive Neuroendocrine Pathways of Social Behavior.

Social behaviors are key components of reproduction, because they are essential for successful fertilization. Social behaviors, such as courtship, mating, and aggression, are strongly associated with sex steroids, such as testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. Secretion of sex steroids from the gonads is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in vertebrates. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a pivotal hypothalamic neuropeptide that stimulates gonadotropin release from the pituitary. In recent years, the role of neuropeptides containing the C-terminal Arg-Phe-NH2 (RFamide peptides) has been emphasized in vertebrate reproduction. In particular, two key RFamide peptides, kisspeptin and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), emerged as critical accelerator and suppressor of gonadotropin secretion. Kisspeptin stimulates GnRH release by directly acting on GnRH neurons, whereas GnIH inhibits gonadotropin release by inhibiting kisspeptin, GnRH neurons, or pituitary gonadotropes. These neuropeptides can regulate social behavior by regulating the HPG axis. However, distribution of neuronal fibers of GnRH, kisspeptin, and GnIH neurons is not limited within the hypothalamus, and the existence of extrahypothalamic neuronal fibers suggests direct control of social behavior within the brain. It has traditionally been shown that central administration of GnRH can stimulate female sexual behavior in rats. Recently, it was shown that Kiss1, one of the paralogs of kisspeptin peptide family, regulates fear responses in zebrafish and GnIH inhibits sociosexual behavior in birds. Here, we highlight recent findings regarding the role of GnRH, kisspeptin, and GnIH in the regulation of social behaviors in fish, birds, and mammals and discuss their importance in future biological and biomedical research.

Awareness of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV, Willingness to Use It and Potential Barriers or Facilitators to Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Spain.

There is a lack of data on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectiveness in Spain. We described the awareness of and willingness to use PrEP and examined potential barriers and facilitators to their use among men who have sex with men recruited either online or in voluntary HIV testing centers in Spain. Nearly a third of men (28.7 %) were aware of PrEP and 57.6 % said they would be willing to use it if available, 16.6 % saying they would be unwilling to use PrEP and 25.8 % not being sure. Men who had heard of PrEP were more forceful in their opinions on willingness to use PrEP (willing/not willing: 29.8 %/32.6 % vs. don't know: 21.8 %). The greatest consensus regarding more acceptable PrEP attributes was in the mode of delivery and its cost. Doctors (91 %) or pharmacists (85.3 %) were the preferred providers. The results confirm the need to inform and educate on PrEP and define implementation strategies.

Re-examining the effectiveness of monogamy as an STI-preventive strategy.

The utility of monogamy (in practice) as a strategy for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was investigated. By reviewing recent literature surrounding monogamous relationships and sexual behaviors, the authors determined that monogamy might not prevent against STIs as expected. First, the authors elucidate the ways in which public health officials and the general public define and interpret monogamy and discuss how this contributes to monogamy as an ineffectual STI prevention strategy. Second, the authors provide evidence that individuals' compliance with monogamy is likely to be low, similar to rates of compliance with other medical advice. Lastly, the authors draw upon recent research findings suggesting that people who label themselves as monogamous are less likely to engage in safer sex behaviors than people who have an explicit agreement with their partner to be non-monogamous. Future research and clinical directions to promote sexual health and destigmatize sexual behaviors are considered.

Binge drinking and risky sexual behavior among HIV-negative and unknown HIV status men who have sex with men, 20 US cities.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent over half of new HIV infections in the United States. It is important to understand the factors associated with engaging in risky sexual behavior to develop effective prevention interventions. Binge drinking (≥5 drinks on ≥1 occasion) is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption. This study examines the relationship between binge drinking and sexual risk behaviors among MSM who are current drinkers and who were either HIV-negative or unaware of their HIV status. METHODS: Using the 2011 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system and multivariable Poisson models with robust error estimates, we assessed the association between binge drinking and sexual risk behaviors among current drinkers. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented. RESULTS: Overall, 85% of MSM were current drinkers, and 59% of MSM who drank reported ≥1 episode of binge drinking in the preceding 30 days. In multivariable models, binge drinking was associated with condomless anal intercourse (CAI) at last sex with an HIV-positive or unknown status partner (receptive: PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6; insertive: PR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.4), having exchanged sex for money or drugs at last sex (PR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), having concurrent partners in the past year (PR: 1.1, 95% CI 1.1-1.2), and having more CAI partners in the past year (PR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.4) compared to non-binge drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based strategies for reducing binge drinking could help reduce risky sexual behavior among MSM.

Survey of prevalence of HIV infection, syphilis and HCV infection and related risk behaviors among club drug users in Zhejiang, 2011 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the prevalence of HIV infection,syphilis and hepatitis C infection and related risk behaviors among club drug users in Zhejiang province.Methods The drug users were interviewed with questionnaires in 2011 to collect the information about their demographic characteristics,sexual behaviors,drug use behaviors and the utilization of intervention services.Blood samples were collected from them to detect HIV,syphilis and HCV antibodies.Results A total of 3 253 drug users were surveyed,in which 1 298 were club drug users,accounted for 39.9％.The proportion of club drug users was high in northern and central Zhejiang,in females,in age group ≤25 years,in local residents and in those having commercial sexual behaviors during previous 12 months.Of the 1 298 club drug users,91.2％ were methamphetamine users,0.1％ were infected with HIV(95％CI:0.0％-0.2％),8.1％ suffered from syphilis (95％CI:6.6％-9.6％),17.3％ were infected with HCV(95％CI:15.2％-19.4％).Among the interviewed club drug users,12.7％ were aware of AIDS,9.2％ had injecting drug use histories,29.6％ reported having commercial sex during the previous 12 months,only 33.4％ received free condom and counsel,14.0％ received HIV test.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that living in central and southern Zhejiang was associated with syphilis prevalence,HCV infection and injecting drug use behavior,being female was associated with syphilis prevalence.Injecting drug use and commercial sex during the previous 12 months were associated with HCV infection,and injecting drug use and commercial sex during the previous 12 months were associated with each other.Among the 1 285 club drug users,males,local residents in Zhejiang and those who never received free condom or counsel were more likely to have commercial sex.Conclusion The prevalence of syphilis and HCV infection are high and unprotected sexual behaviors are common among the club drug users in Zhejiang,but less intervention services were received by them,suggesting that more attention should be paid to the prevention and control of HIV,HCV infections and syphilis in club drug users by taking effective intervention measures and increasing intervention coverage.

The status and gender differences of sex knowledge,attitude and behaviors among college students in Guangdong Provine / 重庆医学

Objective To provide evidence for college students'sex education by analysis they status and gender identity of col-lege students'sex knowledge,attitude and behaviors in Guangdong province.Methods By investigating 928 college students of 12 colleges.Results Sex knowledge:Students'awareness of sexual knowledge is low average accuracy rate of question was 37.34%;sex attitude:for sex is a basic human need,love can be sexual,sexual fantasy dreams,masturbation,premarital sex and behavioral aspects of these ideas,the overall degree of recognition is (67.35%,35.24%,56.90%,52.26%,58.04%),boys and girls were sig-nificant differences in acceptance levels(χ2 =7.89,χ2 =48.46,χ2 =189.30,χ2 =32.44,χ2 =27.35,all P <0.01);sex knowledge:students'awareness of sexual knowledge is low;sex behaviors:college Students'heterosexual sex and homosexual sex rates were 8.08% and 1.51%,the incidence of male heterosexual sex is far higher than girls (χ2 = 52.08,P <0.01),there is no significant difference in homosexual acts(χ2 =4.82,P <0.01),condom use rate is low,often use rate was 29.03%,girls was significantly low-er than boys(χ2 = 12.08,P < 0.01 ),they have weak sense of self-protection.Conclusion there are many problems in college students'sex behaviors,attitude and knowledge,and there is need for further strengthening and guidance;we should pay attention to gender differences in education.

Young Men's Shame about Their Desire for other Men Predicts Risky Sex and Moderates the Knowledge - Self-Efficacy Link.

BACKGROUND: Nationally, HIV incidence is rising rapidly among young (18-24 years old) men who have sex with men (YMSM). Knowledge of safer sex generally enhances self-efficacy for safer sex, an important predictor of safer-sex behaviors. Recent findings suggest that a strong negative social emotion (i.e., shame) increases YMSM's sexual risk-taking. Unchangeable shame (e.g., desire for other men) might undermine (moderate) the link between knowledge and self-efficacy or between self-efficacy and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI): this may be less likely for changeable shame (e.g., shame about risky sexual behavior). AIM: To test the hypotheses that shame (i.e., sexual desire shame), but not shame about behavior (i.e., sexual behavior shame), will be positively related to UAI and will moderate the relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy and/or self-efficacy and UAI among YMSM. METHOD: In an online national study, 1177 young adult (18-24 years old) MSM reported one or more acts of UAI in the past 90 days with a casual partner. Eligible MSM filled out a survey in which they provided information about their knowledge of safer sex, self-efficacy for safer sex, reported levels of shame, and reported past 90-day UAI. RESULTS: Sexual desire shame was negatively correlated with knowledge and self-efficacy and positively correlated with UAI, the pattern reversed for sexual behavior shame. Sexual desire shame significantly lowered the knowledge to self-efficacy and the self-efficacy to UAI links. Sexual behavior shame also reduced the link from knowledge to self-efficacy, but not the self-efficacy to UAI link. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that there are different types of shame that may produce different effects with different implications for health behavior. Sexual desire shame may better reflect an emotion that is activated prior to risky behavior (e.g., when men reflect upon or feel desire for another man). Sexual behavior shame, on the other hand, better reflects what has already happened, thus, those higher in knowledge, efficacy, and therefore, safer sex are least likely to experience shame behavior.