Gay App Use, Sexuality Traits, and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: Mediation Analysis.
geosocial networking apps
high-risk sexual behaviors
men who have sex with men
mobile phone
respondent-driven sampling
sexuality traits
Journal
Journal of medical Internet research
ISSN: 1438-8871
Titre abrégé: J Med Internet Res
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 100959882
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 11 2023
01 11 2023
Historique:
received:
18
05
2023
accepted:
29
09
2023
revised:
25
09
2023
medline:
2
11
2023
pubmed:
1
11
2023
entrez:
1
11
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Gay geosocial networking apps, also known as "gay apps," have gained increasing popularity in the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. Certain sexuality traits and gay app use are both associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of such relationships. Based on the uses and gratifications theory, this study aimed to test the mediation effect of gay app use on the relationship between sexuality traits (sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking) and high-risk sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse) among MSM. A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in Wuhan and Changsha, China, from August to October 2020. A representative sample of 402 MSM was recruited through respondent-driven sampling. A self-administered web-based structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic information, high-risk sexual behaviors, gay app use, sexual compulsivity, and sexual sensation seeking. Path analysis was conducted to assess the mediation effect. Our study revealed that 67.42% (n=271) of MSM used gay apps for seeking potential sexual partners, with 37.06% (n=149) of them engaging in unprotected anal intercourse, and 45.42% (n=218) of them having multiple sexual partners. Of the participants, 17.16% (n=69) reported significant sexual compulsivity, while 29.10% (n=117) reported significant sexual sensation seeking. Notably, gay app usage partially mediated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and multiple sexual partners but fully mediated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and unprotected anal intercourse. Furthermore, gay app usage partially mediated the relationship between sexual sensation seeking and multiple sexual partners but fully mediated the relationship between sexual sensation seeking and unprotected anal intercourse. High-risk sexual behaviors are common among MSM. Most MSM rely on gay apps to find sexual partners, which, when combined with higher levels of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking, can increase the likelihood of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing these behaviors among MSM should focus on addressing the use of gay apps, while also considering the influence of their sexuality traits on gay app use.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Gay geosocial networking apps, also known as "gay apps," have gained increasing popularity in the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. Certain sexuality traits and gay app use are both associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of such relationships.
OBJECTIVE
Based on the uses and gratifications theory, this study aimed to test the mediation effect of gay app use on the relationship between sexuality traits (sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking) and high-risk sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse) among MSM.
METHODS
A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in Wuhan and Changsha, China, from August to October 2020. A representative sample of 402 MSM was recruited through respondent-driven sampling. A self-administered web-based structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic information, high-risk sexual behaviors, gay app use, sexual compulsivity, and sexual sensation seeking. Path analysis was conducted to assess the mediation effect.
RESULTS
Our study revealed that 67.42% (n=271) of MSM used gay apps for seeking potential sexual partners, with 37.06% (n=149) of them engaging in unprotected anal intercourse, and 45.42% (n=218) of them having multiple sexual partners. Of the participants, 17.16% (n=69) reported significant sexual compulsivity, while 29.10% (n=117) reported significant sexual sensation seeking. Notably, gay app usage partially mediated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and multiple sexual partners but fully mediated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and unprotected anal intercourse. Furthermore, gay app usage partially mediated the relationship between sexual sensation seeking and multiple sexual partners but fully mediated the relationship between sexual sensation seeking and unprotected anal intercourse.
CONCLUSIONS
High-risk sexual behaviors are common among MSM. Most MSM rely on gay apps to find sexual partners, which, when combined with higher levels of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking, can increase the likelihood of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing these behaviors among MSM should focus on addressing the use of gay apps, while also considering the influence of their sexuality traits on gay app use.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37910154
pii: v25i1e49137
doi: 10.2196/49137
pmc: PMC10652192
doi:
Types de publication
Multicenter Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e49137Informations de copyright
©Rui Luo, Zhi Xie, Vincent M B Silenzio, Yun Kuang, Dan Luo. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 01.11.2023.
Références
J Sex Res. 2009 Jul-Aug;46(4):301-8
pubmed: 19148829
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008 May 1;48(1):113-4
pubmed: 18438179
Am J Mens Health. 2014 Nov;8(6):510-20
pubmed: 24658284
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Jan 24;8(1):e14800
pubmed: 32012086
Arch Sex Behav. 2002 Apr;31(2):177-83
pubmed: 11974643
J Pers Assess. 1995 Dec;65(3):586-601
pubmed: 8609589
Media Cult Soc. 2020 May;42(4):502-520
pubmed: 32549646
Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Apr 1;44(7):981-7
pubmed: 17342654
J Pers Assess. 1994 Jun;62(3):385-97
pubmed: 8027907
PLoS One. 2014 Jan 23;9(1):e86603
pubmed: 24466166
AIDS Behav. 2014 Feb;18(2):398-410
pubmed: 23835736
Arch Sex Behav. 2013 Oct;42(7):1285-97
pubmed: 23440562
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2017 Sep - Oct;28(5):807-818
pubmed: 28456472
Arch Sex Behav. 2010 Aug;39(4):940-9
pubmed: 19308715
BMC Public Health. 2014 May 26;14:508
pubmed: 24885058
JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2022 Mar 28;8(3):e31033
pubmed: 35343911
BMC Public Health. 2021 Oct 20;21(1):1900
pubmed: 34670542
JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2019 Mar 14;5(1):e12034
pubmed: 30869650
Sex Health. 2008 Sep;5(3):243-50
pubmed: 18771639
Arch Sex Behav. 2018 Nov;47(8):2177-2183
pubmed: 29992372
Arch Sex Behav. 2015 Oct;44(7):2055-65
pubmed: 25239658
AIDS Behav. 2012 Aug;16(6):1690-8
pubmed: 21785872
AIDS Behav. 2008 Jul;12(4 Suppl):S97-104
pubmed: 18389357
AIDS Behav. 2005 Dec;9(4):387-402
pubmed: 16235135
J Sex Med. 2020 Oct;17(10):2029-2038
pubmed: 32792283
Lancet HIV. 2022 Mar;9(3):e182-e201
pubmed: 35150606
Focus. 2004 Jul;19(6):1-5
pubmed: 15386850
BMC Public Health. 2021 Jan 15;21(1):141
pubmed: 33446160
J Homosex. 2003;44(3-4):71-129
pubmed: 12962179
AIDS. 2005 Apr;19 Suppl 1:S67-75
pubmed: 15838196
Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jun 09;9:842121
pubmed: 35755039
JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2015 May 08;1(1):e4
pubmed: 27227127
J Sex Med. 2017 Mar;14(3):357-365
pubmed: 28130018
AIDS Behav. 2012 Oct;16(7):1717-28
pubmed: 22677975
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Mar 27;7(3):e12573
pubmed: 30916658
BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Nov 27;19(1):1000
pubmed: 31775654
J Behav Addict. 2015 Jun;4(2):37-43
pubmed: 26014671
AIDS Behav. 2015 Jun;19 Suppl 2:112-22
pubmed: 25572832
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Feb 27;8(2):e16030
pubmed: 32130189
Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 8;8(1):24
pubmed: 29311552
JMIR Res Protoc. 2023 Jun 30;12:e48447
pubmed: 37389935
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2016 Oct 6;50(10):858-862
pubmed: 27686762