RESUMO
Alcohol and substance use plays a complex role in sexual behavior among gay and bisexual men. Data from 779 gay and bisexual men who reported sex with a casual partner in the past 3 months were collected in November 2002 at two large lesbian, gay, and bisexual community events in New York City. Participants reporting any unprotected anal receptive or insertive sex scored significantly higher in outcome expectancies for sexual risk taking while using drugs or alcohol, as did HIV-positive men and men with a higher rate of lifetime sexually transmitted infections. Sexual compulsivity, romantic obsessions, drug use, unprotected anal receptive sex, and HIV serostatus successfully predicted outcome expectancies for sexual risk while under the influence. Therapists and other health and social service providers working with gay and bisexual men should explore the connection between sexual risk and being under the influence to uncover psychosocial mechanisms related to this phenomenon.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas , Bissexualidade , Homossexualidade Masculina , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias , Sexo sem Proteção , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Masculino , Cidade de Nova IorqueRESUMO
There are nonsexual reasons that may motivate people to seek out sexual activity with others. Some men who have sex with men may seek out sex environments to engage in sexual behavior. Among the nonsexual reasons that exist for men who have sex with men is a desire to escape from distressing thoughts and feelings. The amplified sexuality and other unique characteristics of sex environments allow men to have more intense emotional experiences around sex. Using the cognitive escape model as a theoretical foundation, this analysis focuses on the emotional vulnerability that some of the men who visit these venues may be avoiding and how their experiences at these venues might act as releasing mechanisms to alleviate dissonant thoughts and feelings. Implications for public health services and future research are discussed.
Assuntos
Comportamento Compulsivo/psicologia , Soropositividade para HIV/psicologia , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Assunção de Riscos , Parceiros Sexuais/psicologia , Adulto , Preservativos , Depressão/psicologia , Soropositividade para HIV/transmissão , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Narração , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The literature on alcohol use has failed to form a consensus on the association between alcohol use and unsafe sex among samples of men who have sex with men (MSM). Although drinking behavior may not be causally related to unsafe sex, it is possible that alcohol use plays a role in sexual scripts. In this paper, we assessed the role that alcohol use plays in the sexual experiences of HIV-seropositive MSM in terms of sexual script theory. An ethnically diverse sample (81% men of color) of HIV-positive MSM with alcohol use disorders from the New York City metropolitan area was recruited from a variety of settings frequented by such men. A critical incident measure was used to qualitatively assess contextual issues regarding participants' most recent incident of unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol. Qualitative analysis revealed three basic sexual scripts involving alcohol: routine, spontaneous, and taboo. Each script had its own sources of risk for unsafe sex. Interventions targeting alcohol use and unsafe sex should be sensitive to the role that alcohol plays in the sexual scripts of HIV-positive MSM.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/psicologia , Soropositividade para HIV/psicologia , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Assunção de Riscos , Parceiros Sexuais/psicologia , Adulto , Anedotas como Assunto , Soropositividade para HIV/transmissão , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
HIV seropositive (HIV+) gay and bisexual men continue to report unprotected sexual practices. Although numerous research studies have examined the relationship between alcohol use and unsafe sex, few have examined this from a qualitative perspective. In this paper, we examined the impact of alcohol use on stigmatized sexual practices among HIV+ gay and bisexual men with alcohol-use disorders. An ethnically diverse sample (81% men of color) from the New York City metropolitan area was recruited from a variety of settings frequented by gay and bisexual men. Using a qualitative interview, contextual issues regarding sexual activities under the influence of alcohol were examined. Qualitative analysis revealed that alcohol use facilitates engagement in sexual practices that are perceived as stigmatic while sober. Interventions targeting alcohol use and unsafe sex should be sensitive to the role which alcohol plays in the sexual practices among HIV+ gay and bisexual men.