title: Exploring the role of sex-seeking apps and websites in the social and sexual lives of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Background The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between online sex-seeking, community/social attachment and sexual behaviour.
  
  
  
  Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 774 sexually active gay and bisexual men in Vancouver, Canada, aged ≥16 years. Multivariable logistic regression compared men who had used online sex-seeking apps/websites in the past 6 months (n=586) with those who did not (n=188).
  
  
  
  Multivariable results showed that online sex seekers were more likely to be younger [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.95, 95% CI: (0.93-0.96)], college educated [aOR=1.60, 95% CI: (1.07, 2.40)], have more Facebook friends [aOR=1.07, 95% CI: (1.01, 1.13)], spend more social time with other gay men [aOR=1.99, 95% CI: (1.33-2.97)], and were less likely to identify emotionally with the gay community [aOR=0.93, 95% CI: (0.86-1.00)]. Further, they had displayed high sensation-seeking behaviour [aOR=1.08, 95% CI: (1.03-1.13)], were more likely to engage in serodiscordant/unknown condomless anal sex [aOR=2.34, 95% CI: (1.50-3.66)], use strategic positioning [aOR=1.72, 95% CI: (1.08-2.74)], ask their partner's HIV-status prior to sex [aOR=2.06, 95% CI: (1.27-3.37)], and have ever been tested for HIV [aOR=4.11, 95% CI: (2.04-8.29)].
  
  
  
  These findings highlight the online and offline social behaviour exhibited by gay and bisexual men, pressing the need for pro-social interventions to promote safe-sex norms online. We conclude that both Internet and community-based prevention will help reach app/web users.
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Kiffer G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Card
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lachowsky
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Zishan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shurgold
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gislason
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Jamie I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Ashleigh J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires