When the Emotions Really Started Kicking In, Which Ended Up Being a Problem: Sex, HIV, and Emotions Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

Interviews from 10 young gay and bisexual men aged 18 to 29 were examined to explore how young gay and bisexual men make decisions regarding sexual behaviors in the age of AIDS. Three main themes emerged: (a) disconnections between what an individual knows about HIV, their motivations to remain HIV-negative, and their sexual behaviors; (b) a struggle to connect emotionally and intimately with another man; and (c) a power dynamic whereby the individual acts as an autonomous decider in the decision-making process. Participants indicated high levels of HIV knowledge, and were engaged in a struggle to balance emotional experiences with sexual partners in a complex gendered dynamic. Findings from this analysis indicate a need to reexamine the social-cognitive theoretical frameworks that have guided gay men's HIV-prevention efforts, as these frameworks have failed to account for the psychologically complex emotional experiences and gender dynamics that are part of sexual decision making.

Young African American male–male relationships: Experiences, expectations, and condom use

“…Findings from this qualitative study facilitates an understanding of how relationship expectations and previous relationship experiences influence condom use practices among young African American MSM. Our findings support extant literature which suggests that desires for intimacy and expectations for romantic relationships shapes the sexual behaviors of young MSM (Eisenberg, Bauermeister, Pingel, Johns, & Santana, 2011; Moeller et al, 2013; Mustanski et al, 2011). For young African American MSM these desires, coupled with finding partners in more risky venues, may prematurely lead them to not use condoms with a partner who has one or two ideal traits.…”

“…Relationship expectations among young MSM in general, and young African American MSM in particular, are often complicated by premature romantic ideation, and desires for intimacy, passion, and commitment (Bauermeister, Carballo-Dieguez, Ventuneac, & Dolezal, 2009; Bauermeister et al, 2011). These complications arise for multiple reasons including: (1) difficulty establishing an emotional connection with another man, (2) difficulty negotiating HIV prevention strategies for relationships that do not progress or develop as expected, and (3) lack of dating experience to help differentiate between possible romantic, casual, or sex-only relationships (Bauermeister, 2012; Moeller, Halkitis, Pollock, Siconolfi, & Barton, 2013). Additionally, the ability to meet multiple romantic and sex-only partners through the Internet has changed the way young MSM meet and communicate with potential partners (Taylor et al, 2012).…”

Research on the Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal on Sexual Risk in Men who have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Prevention Interventions

“…Given the relative lack of attention this idea has been given in HIV prevention research and intervention, it is surprising to discover that it is not new, probably first addressed systematically in the published literature over two decades ago [73]. However, it is an idea that current HIV prevention researchers and interventionists are expressing far more often (e.g., [72, 74, 75]) and is substantiated by research such as that reviewed in this paper. In the remainder of this paper we discuss attempts that have been made to address “heat of the moment” factors as part of behavioral HIV prevention interventions and promising paths for intervention development.…”

Latent Growth Curve Modeling of Non-Injection Drug Use and Condomless Sexual Behavior from Ages 18 to 21 in Gay, Bisexual, and Other YMSM: The P18 Cohort Study

“…In the United States, sexual minority young men are disproportionately affected by HIV (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 2016), and non-injection drug use has been associated with HIV transmission in this population throughout the history of the disease (Halkitis et al, 2011; Pollock et al, 2012). Moreover, the management of HIV has changed drastically over the last three decades (Beyrer et al, 2012; Lansky et al, 2010), and the meaning of HIV in the lives of young sexual minority men may be different than for those who came of age at the height of the epidemic in the 1980’s and 1990’s in the pre-HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) era (Kingdon et al, 2013; Moeller, Halkitis, Pollock, Siconolfi, & Barton, 2013). Thus, understanding how drug use is associated with sexual risk behaviors over time in a generation of YMSM who came of age post-HAART may provide valuable insight seeking to inform future prevention efforts (Kingdon et al, 2013).…”