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The Effects of Sexual Sensation Seeking and Alcohol Use on Risky Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

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Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain most at risk for developing HIV infection. The best prevention in this population is to identify risk factors associated with unprotected sex. Recent research suggests that sexual sensation seeking (SSS) and level of average drinking moderates the relationship between drinking alcohol in the context of sex and risky sexual behavior in a young MSM population (ages 16–20 years). Current study is an exploratory analysis using multilevel modeling to examine if these results are consistent across a MSM population with a wider range of ages who are also heavy drinkers. Participants (n = 181) included MSM (ages 18–75 years) from a longitudinal clinical research trial. Results indicate that MSM with higher SSS were more likely to have unprotected anal sex if they drank alcohol 3 h prior to sex than those who did not, (OR = 1.07; 95 % CI 1.03–1.12). There was no significant interaction effect for average levels of drinking.

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Acknowledgments

The IC4M study was supported by Grant AA 011745 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Drs. Fernand Lubuguin (University of Denver) and Brett Hagman (NIAAA) are thanked for their review and comments. Stephen Mistler, M.A. (Arizona State University) is thanked for his statistics consulting services. Dr. Alexis Kuerbis (Columbia Addiction Services and Psychotherapy Interventions Research) is thanked for her support and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Professional Psychology, The University of Denver, 2460 S. Vine St., Denver, CO, 80208, USA

    Bram Heidinger & Kim Gorgens

  2. Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Drive, Room 2725, New York City, NY, 10032, USA

    Jon Morgenstern

Authors
  1. Bram Heidinger
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  2. Kim Gorgens
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  3. Jon Morgenstern
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Correspondence to Bram Heidinger.

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Heidinger, B., Gorgens, K. & Morgenstern, J. The Effects of Sexual Sensation Seeking and Alcohol Use on Risky Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav 19, 431–439 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0871-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0871-3

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