title: Associations Between Perceived Weight Status, Body Dissatisfaction, and Self-Objectification on Sexual Sensation Seeking and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Grindr.
abstract: To date, various dimensions of body image and their associations with condom use have not been studied among men who have sex with men (MSM) who use geosocial-networking smartphone applications ("apps") to meet new sexual partners. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate associations between weight perception, body dissatisfaction, and self-objectification with sexual behaviors among a sample of MSM (N = 92) recruited from Grindr, an app popular among MSM, to complete an online survey. Obese participants scored significantly higher on measures of body dissatisfaction and lower on measures of sexual sensation seeking. Decreased propensities to seek sexual sensations were associated with fewer sexual partners. By assessing associations between dimensions of body dissatisfaction and sexual risk behaviors, this study adds support to a theory of syndemics among MSM, which suggests that synergistically related biological, psychological, social, and behavioral factors disproportionately affect health and health-related behaviors in this population.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Population Health, School of Medicine; College of Global Public Health; and Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Science , New York University.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Goedel
authors.affiliation: b Department of Population Health, School of Medicine , New York University; VA New York Harbor Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medicine, School of Medicine; Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development , New York University.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.affiliation: d Department of Population Health, School of Medicine; College of Global Public Health; Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, College of Nursing; Population Center, College of Arts and Science; and Center for Data Science , New York University.
authors.forename: Dustin T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body dissatisfaction; condom use; men who have sex with men; self-objectification; weight perception