title: Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of seeking sex partners on the internet among HIV-positive men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Internet is revolutionizing how people access and use information; for some people, the Internet is also redefining interpersonal relationships, including sexual relationships.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to extend the understanding of HIV-positive men who use the Internet to meet sex partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the use of the Internet for meeting sex partners among 141 sexually active HIV-positive men who completed anonymous surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that 37% of sexually active HIV-positive men who were using the Internet had gone online to seek potential sex partners in the previous 3 months. Seeking sex partners online was associated with greater likelihood of having HIV-negative sex partners and engaging in unprotected intercourse with HIV-negative or unknown HIV status partners. Multivariate analyses showed that seeking sex partners online was associated with greater education, higher CD4 cell counts, using the Internet for sexual entertainment, and higher Sexual Compulsivity scale scores over and above demographic, health, Internet use, sexual behavior, and other psychosocial characteristics including optimism and depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest a continued need for interventions targeting HIV transmission risk reduction among HIV-positive men who use the Internet to meet potential sex partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269, USA. seth.k@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Seth C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kalichman
authors.forename: Charsey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Demetria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship; D005845:Georgia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior