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The Impact of Stressful Life Events on Unprotected Anal Intercourse Among Gay and Bisexual Men

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Abstract

We investigated the hypothesis that gay and bisexual men experiencing stressful life events are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Data were from a cohort study of 155 HIV-positive and 207 HIV-negative men in Ontario, Canada (1998–2007). We quantified the relation between stressful life events and unprotected anal intercourse with a non-regular partner. In the past 6 months, 19% reported unprotected intercourse (HIV+: 28%; HIV−: 13%) and 58% reported one or more stressful life events (HIV+: 64%; HIV−: 55%). Among HIV-negative men, the odds of unprotected intercourse increased by 1.15 for each additional event (95%CI 1.06, 1.24). Among HIV-positive men, those who reported the event “problems due to alcohol or drugs” were 1.80 (95%CI 1.27, 2.56) times more likely to report unprotected intercourse. Interventions to assist men to cope with stress may help to prevent population spread of HIV and improve overall health.

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Acknowledgments

The Polaris HIV Seroconversion Study was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (HHP-44976); the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; the AIDS Prevention and Community Action Program, Health Canada (grant 6962-15-1998-1840004); the Glaxo-Wellcome Positive Action Program, AIDS Program Committee, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. Drs. Ted Myers and Janet Raboud were supported by an Ontario HIV Treatment Network Career Scientist Award. Dr. Trevor Hart was supported by New Investigator Salary Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The authors are grateful for assistance with recruitment from Len Neglia and the HIV Laboratory, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, and physicians, clinics and community organizations across Ontario. We thank the following staff for their assistance with data collection: Wendy Medved, Nancy Ramuscak, Sandra Bullock, Rose Gaudet, Suzanne Thompson, Andrea Anonychuk, Jennifer Brown, Laura Gold, Raj Maharaj, and Domenico Calla. We also acknowledge (in alphabetical order) the other investigators of the Polaris HIV Seroconversion Study: Ahmed Bayoumi and Kevin Gough (St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto); Dennis Haubrich (Ryerson University, Toronto); Ken Logue (St. Clair Medical Association Research Institute, Toronto); John Maxwell (AIDS Committee of Toronto); Frank McGee and James Murray (AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care); Mario Ostrowski (University of Toronto); Anita Rachlis (Sunnybrook Sciences Centre, University of Toronto); Stan Read (Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto); and Paul Sandstrom (National HIV & Retrovirology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 5th Floor, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada

    Liviana M. Calzavara, Gerald Lebovic, Ted Myers, Robert S. Remis, Janet Raboud, Paul Corey & Trevor A. Hart

  2. Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ann N. Burchell

  3. University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Janet Raboud

  4. HIV Laboratory, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Carol Swantee

  5. Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Trevor A. Hart

Authors
  1. Liviana M. Calzavara
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  2. Ann N. Burchell
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  4. Ted Myers
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  5. Robert S. Remis
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  6. Janet Raboud
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  7. Paul Corey
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  8. Carol Swantee
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  9. Trevor A. Hart
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Correspondence to Liviana M. Calzavara.

Additional information

Liviana M. Calzavara and Ann N. Burchell share lead authorship and equally contributed to the manuscript.

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Calzavara, L.M., Burchell, A.N., Lebovic, G. et al. The Impact of Stressful Life Events on Unprotected Anal Intercourse Among Gay and Bisexual Men. AIDS Behav 16, 633–643 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9879-5

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