Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

The current study's subjects, men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 18 to 24, completed a 45-minute online survey about their sexual activities and Internet use in the preceding three months. The researchers used these data to examine the characteristics of young MSM who use the Internet, together with the risks associated with seeking sex online, offline or both.

Unprotected anal intercourse was reported by 29 percent of MSM seeking sex exclusively online, by 34 percent of MSM seeking sex exclusively offline, and by 43 percent of MSM seeking sex through both strategies. MSM who reported meeting partners exclusively offline reported the fewest number of partners but the highest proportion of partnerships involving unprotected anal intercourse (49 percent). Using both strategies to meet sex partners (odds ratio=3.38-58.42) and being drunk (OR=1.57) or high (OR=2.24) increased the odds of having more sex partners. The same factors also increased the odds of unprotected anal intercourse: using both strategies (OR=1.60); being drunk (OR=1.43); being high (OR=1.61).

"Risky sexual behavior was prevalent among all of the study subgroups," the authors concluded. "Our findings suggest that online sex seeking is associated with greater numbers of sexual partners but neither promotes nor discourages unprotected anal intercourse. Regardless of where sexual partners met, being drunk and high were significant risks for unprotected anal intercourse."

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