title: Preferences for Condomless Sex in Sexually Explicit Media Among Black/African American Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Prevention.
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that viewing sexually explicit media (SEM; i.e., pornography) may be related to the sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM). Furthermore, stereotypical depictions of Black/African American MSM engaging in sexual risk behaviors in SEM may serve to normalize condomless sex, reinforce low peer norms around condom use, and facilitate HIV risk taking among Black/African American MSM. Despite this evidence, very little is known about the correlates of SEM consumption among Black/African American MSM, including HIV risk behaviors and their relation to preferences for viewing condomless sex in SEM. Participants were 653 HIV-seronegative Black-identified MSM ages 18-62 (M 33.58, SD 11.01) who completed a cross-sectional survey as a part of a HIV prevention trial in Atlanta, Georgia. Over three-quarters of the men (n = 514) reported a preference for condomless sex in SEM. In multivariate models, engaging in serodiscordant condomless sex was not significantly associated with preferences for condomless sex in SEM; however, men who self-identified as bisexual, engaged in transactional sex, and reported greater agreement with sexual risk cognitions (i.e., heat-of-the-moment thoughts about condom use) had significantly greater odds of reporting a preference for condomless sex in SEM. Study findings highlight the need for future research exploring the role of SEM in the sexual health of Black/African American MSM, including the extent to which SEM exposure alters norms and expectations about sexual behaviors among Black/African American MSM and how this might be addressed in HIV prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, Suite 309, 164 Summit Ave., Providence, RI, 02906, USA. kimberly_nelson_1@brown.edu.|Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. kimberly_nelson_1@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.|Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Kristi E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Gamarel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004882:Erotica; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Black men; HIV prevention; MSM; Pornography; Sexually explicit media