A Study of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in a Sample of Geosocial-Networking Smartphone Application Users

Abstract

Geosocial-networking smartphone applications (“apps”) are widely used by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and facilitate connections between users based on proximity and attraction. MSM have sexual encounters and relationships of varying degrees of emotional and physical intimacy with app-met individuals, potentially placing them at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). The purpose of the current study was to utilize a geosocial-networking application to investigate relationships between experiences of IPV victimization as it relates to substance use and sexual risk behaviors in a sample of MSM. Participants ( n = 175) were recruited by means of broadcast advertisements on an application widely used by MSM (Grindr) to seek sexual partners. Multivariable regression models were fit to examine associations between IPV, substance abuse, and sexual risk behaviors. Lifetime experiences of IPV victimization were common, where 37.7% of respondents reported having experienced at least one form of IPV. While a marginally significant positive association between IPV and substance abuse was detected in multivariable models ( p = .095), individual forms of IPV were strongly associated with substance abuse. For example, sexual IPV victimization was associated with an increase in substance abuse in the preceding month ( p = .004). Experiences of IPV victimization were associated with higher numbers of partners for both condomless receptive and insertive anal intercourse ( p < .05). Given the relatively high prevalence of IPV victimization and its associations with substance abuse and sexual risk behaviors, these findings suggest that IPV screening and prevention programs may reduce substance abuse and sexual risk behaviors in this population.

Infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e fatores associados ao uso do preservativo em usuários de aplicativos de encontro no Brasil

“…This result corroborates the findings of a recent review (2) and of most studies of this kind in the world. (7,(10)(11)(12)(13) Mobile app use by MSM is a practical and efficient way to establish sexual partnerships quicker than conventional methods. Establishing partnerships through apps allows MSM to select partners according to their preferences and change their profile, which provides users with a different experience for expressing sexuality, (14) especially younger individuals, (15) one reason that explains the growing popularity of these apps.…”

Behavior- and Partner-Based HIV Risk Perception and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Who Use Geosocial-Networking Smartphone Applications in New York City

“…Recruitment methods for the current study have been previously described elsewhere. 10 In brief, broadcast advertisements were placed on a popular geosocial-networking smartphone application for MSM to recruit participants during two 15-h time periods on two consecutive days in March 2015. In this period, 380 users clicked through the advertisement and 175 users completed the survey, representing an overall response rate of 46.1 %.…”

Intimate partner violence victimization and HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Shanghai, China

“…While IPV and its association with HIV infection and/or non-HIV sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among MSM are seldom examined (10,11), the limited literature does suggest that IPV may be a common experience among MSM with a prevalence like or even higher than that among heterosexual women, and have associations with increased odds of substance use, depressive symptoms and engagement in unprotected anal sex (9,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15).…”