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A Structural Equation Model of the Effect of Masculinity and Avoidant Coping on Gay and Bisexual Men’s Sexual Risk-Taking

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Abstract

This study aims to extend the scientific knowledge base on the association between masculine norm adherence and sexual risk-taking, in the context of gay and bisexual men, by examining emotional suppression, social support seeking, and avoidant coping as potential mediating pathways. A sample of 482 gay and bisexual men was recruited. Structural equation modeling was used to assess for mediation. Findings revealed that although gender role conflict and conformity to masculine norms (i.e., the two masculine norm adherence predictor variables) did not have a direct effect on sexual risk-taking, a significant indirect effect was observed for gender role conflict on sexual risk-taking via increased avoidant coping. Accordingly, gender role conflict and avoidant coping may create a unique effect on sexual risk-taking whereby the effect of gender role conflict on sexual risk-taking is not transmitted directly but only indirectly through the mediating role of avoidant coping. Future research directions are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Canadian Association of HIV Research funded the present study.

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  1. Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Tyler L. Brown

  2. Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Nathan Grant Smith

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Joseph Cox

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Brown, T.L., Smith, N.G. & Cox, J. A Structural Equation Model of the Effect of Masculinity and Avoidant Coping on Gay and Bisexual Men’s Sexual Risk-Taking. AIDS Behav 25, 1438–1453 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02981-4

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