title: Associations of unprotected anal intercourse with Grindr-met partners among Grindr-using young men who have sex with men in Los Angeles.
abstract: Grindr, a geosocial smartphone application, is a networking medium for men who have sex with men. Although three quarters of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) Grindr users report having sex with a Grindr-met partner, the correlates of risky sexual behavior with Grindr-met partners are unknown. A randomly selected sample of 18- to 24-year-old, Grindr-using YMSM completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing patterns of Grindr use and sexual behavior with their last Grindr-met partners. Of the 146 YMSM who reported having sex with Grindr-met partners, 20% had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) at last sex with their Grindr-met partner. In the multivariable model, YMSM who used Grindr for at least one year showed naked chest/abs in their profile photo, and reported more past month Grindr-met partners were more likely to report UAI. These findings suggest that familiarity with the app was associated with YMSM's UAI with Grindr-met partners. Moreover, sexualized profile photos (i.e., naked chest/abs) may be associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors. HIV prevention interventions delivered or linked through such apps should target individuals who are longer/frequent users and who present sexualized profiles.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Hailey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winetrobe
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauermeister
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petering
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Holloway
mesh_terms: D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010781:Photography; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Grindr; HIV/AIDS; YMSM; smartphone app; unprotected anal intercourse