Barebacking identity among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men: demographic, psychological, and behavioral correlates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlates associated with barebacking identity among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.


METHODS
An analysis of data from the baseline quantitative assessment of a randomized controlled intervention study of 1168 HIV-positive gay and bisexual men from New York City and San Francisco.


METHODS
Participants were actively and passively recruited from mainstream gay venues, AIDS service organizations, and public and commercial sex environments. Participants completed a computerized quantitative questionnaire assessing their identity as a barebacker, sexual behavior, demographic factors, psychosocial states, perceptions of health risks, and substance use.


RESULTS
Men of color were less likely to identify themselves as barebackers. Men who did identify themselves as barebackers were slightly younger. They were more likely to miss a dose of medication; report drug use (non-injection and injection); exhibit higher levels of sexual compulsivity and lower personal responsibility for safer sex; and report higher rates of unprotected insertive anal intercourse, unprotected receptive anal intercourse, and unprotected insertive oral intercourse with all partners, regardless of their HIV serostatus.


CONCLUSIONS
Barebacking and its corresponding behaviors pose immediate public health risks for HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Further work is needed to understand this phenomenon more fully in relation to the psychological, sociological, biomedical, and cultural realities.
Halkitis
Perry N
PN
Department of Applied Psychology, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, New York University, 239 Greene Street, New York, NY 10003, USA. perry.halkitis@nyu.edu
Wilton
Leo
L
Wolitski
Richard J
RJ
Parsons
Jeffrey T
JT
Hoff
Colleen C
CC
Bimbi
David S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003192:Compulsive Behavior; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data