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Contextualizing condom use: intimacy interference, stigma, and unprotected sex.
Tyrel J Starks1, Gregory Payton2, Sarit A Golub3
1Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), USA.
Journal of Health Psychology
|March 23, 2013
Summary
Perceptions that condoms hinder intimacy increase unprotected anal intercourse, especially for men who have sex with men experiencing gay-related stigma. Condom use was negatively associated with intimacy interference.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Public Health
- HIV Prevention
Background:
- Intimate relationships are a key context for HIV transmission.
- Understanding factors influencing sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) is crucial for public health.
- Gay-related stigma can impact mental health and risk behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between perceived condom-intimacy interference, gay-related stigma, and unprotected/protected anal intercourse among single-identified MSM.
- To investigate potential interaction effects between stigma and condom-intimacy interference on sexual behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Survey data collected from 245 single-identified men who have sex with men.
- Statistical analyses assessed associations between perceived condom interference with intimacy, gay-related stigma, and reported acts of unprotected and protected anal intercourse.
Main Results:
- Perceived condom-intimacy interference was positively associated with the number of unprotected anal intercourse acts.
- This association was amplified among MSM reporting high levels of gay-related stigma.
- Conversely, condom-intimacy interference was negatively associated with protected anal intercourse acts.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that concerns about condoms diminishing intimacy can increase unprotected sex, particularly in the presence of gay-related stigma.
- Public health interventions should address both intimacy concerns and stigma to promote safer sex practices among MSM.
- Rejection sensitivity theory may help explain these complex relationships.
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