Moral and Sexual Disgust Suppress Sexual Risk Behaviors among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China

Abstract

Increasingly more men who have sex with men (MSM) are engaging in sexual risk taking in China in recent years. Given the high rates of HIV infection among MSM in China, it is urgent that we understand the factors that influence MSM's practice of sexual risk taking. Disgust sensitivity, which elicits a behavioral avoidance response, has the potential to influence risky sexual behavior. The present study examined the relationship between disgust sensitivity and sexual risk behavior among MSM in China. Men (n = 584) who reported having anal intercourse in the previous 6 months were recruited from the Internet. Two indicators of sexual risk behaviors were measured: condom use and the number of sex partners. The results indicated that moral disgust was positively associated with condom use, with MSM who had higher moral disgust being more likely to use condoms than others did. Sexual disgust was positively associated with the number of sex partners, with MSM who had higher sexual disgust having fewer male sex partners than others did. Sexual and moral disgust sensitivity significantly predicted HIV testing. Our study verified that sexual and moral disgust suppressed sexual risk behaviors and promoted HIV testing. Moral and sexual education should be incorporated in future strategies for HIV prevention and encouragement of safe sex behaviors among MSM in China.

Adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

“…(1,3) Due to social and cultural pressures of the local environment, MSM in China are often subject to stigma and social discrimination. (12,13) As a result, they receive limited sexual health education from guardians or in schools, potentially leaving them with limited knowledge of safer sex practices. (14,15) Without scienti cally accurate knowledge, early sexual experiences of individuals may further impact their subsequent behaviors, and facilitate engaging in risk-taking behaviors, such as condomless sex and having more sexual partners.…”

Early and non-consensual sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

“…Due to social and cultural pressures of the local environment, MSM in China are often subject to stigma and social discrimination. (13,14) As a result, they are receiving limited sexual health education from guardians or in schools, potentially leaving them with limited knowledge of safer sex practices. (15,16) Without scienti cally accurate knowledge, early sexual experiences of individuals may further impact their subsequent behaviors, and facilitate the adoption of risk-taking behaviors, such as condomless sex and having more sexual behaviors.…”

“…Second, Chinese MSM tend to be stigmatized and discriminated, and lack sexual health education and awareness of health care. (14) Third, the social norms and attitudes toward sexuality among Chinese MSM have rapidly changed in the past decade, and Chinese MSM are more open to having sex at an earlier age. (20,21) In addition, Chinese MSM are disproportionally impacted by HIV, while the HIV prevalence among MSM reached 8.0% in 2015 and has remained high since then, which is about 300-400 times of general people in China.…”

Adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

“…Due to social and cultural pressures of the local environment, MSM in China are often subject to stigma and social discrimination [10,11]. As a result, they receive limited sexual health education from guardians or in schools, potentially leaving them with limited knowledge of safer sex practices [12,13].…”