Archives of Sexual Behavior

, Volume 46, Issue 4, pp 947–959 | Cite as

Satisfaction and Condomless Anal Sex at Sexual Debut and Sexual Risk Among Young Black Same-Sex Attracted Men

  • Jessica Oidtman
  • Susan G. Sherman
  • Anthony Morgan
  • Danielle German
  • Renata Arrington-Sanders
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

First sex may be a sentinel event crucial to understanding sexual health trajectories of young Black same-sex attracted men (YBSSAM). We sought to understand whether satisfaction, condomless anal sex, and contextual factors during first sex were associated with sexual risk and recent condom use in YBSSAM. A total of 201 YBSSAM aged 15–24 years completed an Internet survey exploring first sex, current condom use, and sexual risk. High risk was defined as ≥3 of the following: new/concurrent sex partners, STI history, and no/inconsistent condom use. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the association between predictor (satisfaction and first condomless anal sex) and outcome (sexual risk and condomless sex in the past 3 months) variables. Mean age at first sex was 15.2 (SD = 2.9) years, and emotional satisfaction (51.7 %), physical satisfaction (63.7 %), and condomless first anal sex (55.2 %) were common. YBSSAM describing high levels of satisfaction were no more likely to be at high risk or engage in recent condomless sex. Condomless first sex (AOR = 4.57, p = .001), younger age (AOR = 3.43, p = .02), and having a partner >5 years older (AOR = 2.78, p = .03) at first sex were significantly associated with increased risk. Only condomless first sex (AOR = 4.28, p < .001) was associated with condomless recent sex. Satisfaction at first sex may not influence later sexual risk in YBSSAM. However, context of first sex, including condom use at first sex, may play an important role in subsequent risk. Prevention strategies on condom negotiation prior to first sex may help to mitigate HIV burden in YBSSAM.

Keywords

First anal sex Sexual satisfaction Sexual risk Sexual orientation Race/ethnicity 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Funding

This work was funded by National Institute of Child Health and Development K23 HD074470 (Sanders) award.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

References

  1. Arrington-Sanders, R., Harper, G. W., Morgan, A., Ogunbajo, A., Trent, M., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2015). The role of sexually explicit material in the sexual development of same-sex-attracted black adolescent males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(3), 597–608.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  2. Arrington-Sanders, R., Leonard, L., Brooks, D., Celentano, D., & Ellen, J. (2013). Older partner selection in young African-American men who have sex with men. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(6), 682–688.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  3. Arrington-Sanders, R., Rosenberger, J. G., Matson, P., Novak, D. S., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2016). Factors associated with emotional satisfaction during first anal intercourse in a sample of YMSM. Journal of Homosexuality, 63, 968–984.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Bauermeister, J. A., Carballo-Dieguez, A., Ventuneac, A., & Dolezal, C. (2009). Assessing motivations to engage in intentional condomless anal intercourse in HIV-risk contexts (“bareback sex”) among men who have sex with men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 21(2), 156–168.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  5. Bauermeister, J. A., Johns, M. M., Sandfort, T. G., Eisenberg, A., Grossman, A. H., & D’Augelli, A. R. (2010). Relationship trajectories and psychological well-being among sexual minority youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(10), 1148–1163.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  6. Bauermeister, J. A., Pingel, E., Zimmerman, M., Couper, M., Carballo-Dieguez, A., & Strecher, V. J. (2012). Data quality in HIV/AIDS web-based surveys: Handling invalid and suspicious data. Field Methods, 24(3), 272–291.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  7. Ben-Shlomo, Y., & Kuh, D. (2002). A life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology: Conceptual models, empirical challenges and interdisciplinary perspectives. International Journal of Epidemiology, 31(2), 285–293.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Bowleg, L. (2013). “Once you’ve blended the cake, you can’t take the parts back to the main ingredients”: Black gay and bisexual men’s descriptions and experiences of intersectionality. Sex Roles, 68(11–12), 754–767.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Cash, T. F. (2000). The multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Norfolk, VA: Old Dominion University Press.Google Scholar
  10. Cash, T. F., Maikkula, C. L., & Yamamiya, Y. (2004). Baring the body in the bedroom: Body image, sexual self-schemas, and sexual functioning among college women and men. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 7, 1–9. http://www.ejhs.org/volume7/bodyimage.html.
  11. Centers for Disease Control. (2012). Estimated HIV incidence among adults and adolescents in the United States, 2007–2010. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 17(4), 1–26.Google Scholar
  12. Chai, S. J., Aumakhan, B., Barnes, M., Jett-Goheen, M., Quinn, N., Agreda, P., et al. (2010). Internet-based screening for sexually transmitted infections to reach nonclinic populations in the community: Risk factors for infection in men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 37(12), 756–763.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  13. Clerkin, E. M., Newcomb, M. E., & Mustanski, B. (2011). Unpacking the racial disparity in HIV rates: The effect of race on risky sexual behavior among black young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34(4), 237–243.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  14. Collins, W. A., Welsh, D. P., & Furman, W. (2009). Adolescent romantic relationships. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 631–652.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. Couper, M. P. (2008). Designing effective web surveys. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Crosby, R., Milhausen, R., Yarber, W. L., Sanders, S. A., & Graham, C. A. (2008). Condom ‘turn offs’ among adults: An exploratory study. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 19(9), 590–594.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  17. Davison, S. L., Bell, R. J., LaChina, M., Holden, S. L., & Davis, S. R. (2009). The relationship between self-reported sexual satisfaction and general well-being in women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(10), 2690–2697.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Melani, L. (2010). Internet, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method. Toronto: Wiley.Google Scholar
  19. Entwisle, D. R., & Astone, N. M. (1994). Some practical guidelines for measuring youth’s race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Child Development, 65(6), 1521–1540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Fields, E. L., Bogart, L. M., Smith, K. C., Malebranche, D. J., Ellen, J., & Schuster, M. A. (2012). HIV risk and perceptions of masculinity among young black men who have sex with men. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50(3), 296–303.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  21. Fields, E. L., Bogart, L. M., Smith, K. C., Malebranche, D. J., Ellen, J., & Schuster, M. A. (2015). “I always felt I had to prove my manhood”: Homosexuality, masculinity, gender role strain, and HIV risk among young black men who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, 105, 122–131.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  22. Frable, D. E. S., Platt, L., & Hoey, S. (1998). Concealable stigmas and positive self-perceptions: Feeling better around similar others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(4), 909–922.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  23. Garofalo, R., Kuhns, L. M., Hidalgo, M., Gayles, T., Kwon, S., Muldoon, A. L., et al. (2014). Impact of religiosity on the sexual risk behaviors of young men who have sex with men. Journal of Sex Research, 52(5), 590–598.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  24. Gaydos, C. A., Barnes, M., Aumakhan, B., Quinn, N., Agreda, P., Whittle, P., et al. (2009). Can e-technology through the internet be used as a new tool to address the chlamydia trachomatis epidemic by home sampling and vaginal swabs? Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 36(9), 577–580.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  25. Gaydos, C. A., Jett-Goheen, M., Barnes, M., Dize, L., Barnes, P., & Hsieh, Y. (2015). Use of a risk quiz to predict infection for sexually transmitted infections: A retrospective analysis of acceptability and positivity. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 92(1), 44–48.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  26. Glick, S. N., & Golden, M. R. (2014). Early male partnership patterns, social support, and sexual risk behavior among young men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 18(8), 1466–1475.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  27. Hensel, D. J., Stupiansky, N. W., Herbenick, D., Dodge, B., & Reece, M. (2012). Sexual pleasure during condom-protected vaginal sex among heterosexual men. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(5), 1272–1276.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  28. Higgins, J. A., Mullinax, M., Trussell, J., Davidson, J. K., & Moore, N. B. (2011). Sexual satisfaction and sexual health among university students in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 101(9), 1643–1654.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  29. Higgins, J. A., Trussell, J., Moore, N. B., & Davidson, J. K. (2010). Virginity lost, satisfaction gained? Physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction at heterosexual debut. Journal of Sex Research, 47(4), 384–394.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  30. Hosmer, D. W., Jr., & Lemeshow, S. (2004). Applied logistic regression. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.Google Scholar
  31. Hurt, C. B., Mathew, D. D., Calabria, M. S., Green, K. A., Adimora, A. A., Golin, C. E., & Hightow-Weidman, L. B. (2010). Sex with older partners is associated with primary HIV infection among men who have sex with men in North Carolina. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficency Syndromes, 54(2), 185–190.Google Scholar
  32. Joseph, H. A., Marks, G., Belcher, L., Millett, G. A., Stueve, A., Bingham, T. A., et al. (2011). Older partner selection, sexual risk behaviour and unrecognised HIV infection among black and Latino men who have sex with men. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 87(5), 442–447.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  33. Kaplan, D. L., Jones, E. J., Olson, E. C., & Yunzal-Butler, C. B. (2013). Early age of first sex and health risk in an urban adolescent population. Journal of School Health, 83(5), 350–356.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  34. Kashubeck-West, S., & Szymanski, D. M. (2008). Risky sexual behavior in gay and bisexual men internalized heterosexism, sensation seeking, and substance use. The Counseling Psychologist, 36(4), 595–614.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Kroger, J. (2006). Identity development: Adolescence through adulthood. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
  36. Kubicek, K., Beyer, W. J., Weiss, G., Iverson, E., & Kipke, M. D. (2010). In the dark: Young men’s stories of sexual initiation in the absence of relevant sexual health information. Health Education and Behavior, 37(2), 243–263.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  37. Kubicek, K., Carpineto, J., McDavitt, B., Weiss, G., Iverson, E. F., Au, C. W., et al. (2008). Integrating professional and folk models of HIV risk: YMSM’s perceptions of high-risk sex. AIDS Education and Prevention, 20(3), 220–238.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  38. Lawrance, K., Byers, E. S., & Cohen, J. (1998). Interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction questionnaire. In C. M. Davis, W. L. Yarber, & S. L. Davis (Eds.), Sexuality related measures: A compendium (pp. 525–530). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
  39. Marston, C., & King, E. (2006). Factors that shape young people’s sexual behaviour: A systematic review. Lancet, 368(9547), 1581–1586.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  40. McClelland, S. I., & Tolman, D. L. (2014). Adolescent sexuality. In T. Teo (Ed.), Encyclopedia of critical psychology (pp. 40–47). New York: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Millett, G. A., Peterson, J. L., Flores, S. A., Hart, T. A., Jefferies, W. L., Wilson, P. A., et al. (2012). Comparisons of disparities and risks of HIV infection in black and other men who have sex with men in Canada, UK, and USA: A meta-analysis. Lancet, 380(9839), 341–348.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  42. Mosher, D. L. (1998). Multiple indicators of subjective sexual arousal. In W. L. Yarber & R. Bauserman (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (pp. 75–77). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
  43. Mustanski, B., Newcomb, M. E., & Clerkin, E. M. (2011). Relationship characteristics and sexual risk-taking in young men who have sex with men. Health Psychology, 30(5), 597–605.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  44. Outlaw, A. Y., Phillips, G., Hightow-Weidman, L. B., Fields, S. D., Hidalgo, J., Halpern-Felsher, B., et al. (2011). Age of MSM sexual debut and risk factors: Results from a multisite study of racial/ethnic minority YMSM living with HIV. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 25(S1), S23–S29.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  45. Prejean, J., Song, R., Hernandez, A., Ziebell, R., Green, T., Walker, F., et al. (2011). Estimated HIV incidence in the United States, 2006–2009. PLoS One, 6(8), e17502. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017502.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  46. Regnerus, M. D. (2007). Forbidden fruit: Sex and religion in the lives of American teenagers. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Robinson, B. B., Bockting, W. O., Rosser, B. R., Miner, M., & Coleman, E. (2002). The Sexual Health Model: Application of a sexological approach to HIV prevention. Health Education Research, 17(1), 43–57.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  48. Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2006). A model of sexual risk behaviors among young gay and bisexual men: Longitudinal associations of mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and the coming-out process. AIDS Education and Prevention, 18(5), 444–460.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  49. Sánchez-Fuentes, M., & Iglesias, P. S. (2014). A systematic review of sexual satisfaction. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 14(1), 67–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. Sandfort, T. G., Orr, M., Hirsch, J. S., & Santelli, J. (2008). Long-term health correlates of timing of sexual debut: Results from a national US study. American Journal of Public Health, 98(1), 155–161.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  51. Santelli, J. S., Lowry, R., Brener, N. D., & Robin, L. (2000). The association of sexual behaviors with socioeconomic status, family structure, and race/ethnicity among US adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 90(10), 1582–1588.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  52. Scott, V. C., Sandberg, J. G., Harper, J. M., & Miller, R. B. (2012). The impact of depressive symptoms and health on sexual satisfaction for older couples: Implications for clinicians. Contemporary Family Therapy, 34(3), 376–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. Shafii, T., Stovel, K., Davis, R., & Holmes, K. (2004). Is condom use habit forming? Condom use at sexual debut and subsequent condom use. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 31(6), 366–372.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  54. Shafii, T., Stovel, K., & Holmes, K. (2007). Association between condom use at sexual debut and subsequent sexual trajectories: A longitudinal study using biomarkers. American Journal of Public Health, 97(6), 1090–1095.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  55. Smith, C. V., & Shaffer, M. J. (2013). Gone but not forgotten: Virginity loss and current sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 39(2), 96–111.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  56. Sprecher, S., Cate, R. M., Harvey, J., & Wenzel, A. (2004). Sexual satisfaction and sexual expression as predictors of relationship satisfaction and stability. In J. H. Harvey, A. Wenzel, & S. Sprecher (Eds.), The handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 235–256). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
  57. Torres, H. L., Delonga, K., Lee, S., Gladstone, K. A., Barrad, A., Huckaby, S., et al. (2013). Sociocontextual factors: Moving beyond individual determinants of sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual adolescent males. Journal of LGBT Youth, 10(3), 173–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. Voisin, D. R., Bird, J. D. P., Shiu, C. S., & Kreiger, C. (2013). It’s crazy being a Black, gay youth. Getting information about HIV prevention: A pilot study. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 111–119.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  59. Waldo, C. R., McFarland, W., Katz, M. H., MacKellar, D., & Valleroy, L. A. (2000). Very young gay and bisexual men are at risk for HIV infection: The San Francisco Bay Area Young Men’s Survey II. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 24(2), 168–174.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  60. Wilton, L. (2009). A preliminary study of body image and HIV sexual risk behavior in black gay and bisexual men: Implications for HIV prevention. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 21(4), 309–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jessica Oidtman
    • 1
    • 2
  • Susan G. Sherman
    • 1
  • Anthony Morgan
    • 2
  • Danielle German
    • 3
  • Renata Arrington-Sanders
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUSA
  2. 2.Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent MedicineJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUSA
  3. 3.Department of Health, Behavior, and SocietyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUSA

Personalised recommendations