Geosocial Networking Apps and Queer Asian American Men's Sexual Risk Behaviors: Self-Objectification as the Mediator

Public health research has documented a multitude of risk factors that drive sexual risk behaviors among sexual minority men, including online behaviors and negative body image attitudes. Sexual risk behaviors may be particularly pertinent among queer Asian American men who frequently engage with geosocial networking apps (GNAs), which can lead to self-objectification and body fat dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, no studies have examined the interplay between GNA use, body image constructs, and sexual risk activities among queer Asian American men. Thus, the present study investigated 1) whether GNA sex-seeking and intensity are associated with sexual risk behaviors, and 2) whether self-objectification and body fat dissatisfaction mediate the aforementioned associations among a sample of 265 queer Asian American men. Regression analyses revealed that GNA sex-seeking (b = .33, p < .001) and intensity (b = .27, p < .001) were both significantly and positively associated with more sexual risk behaviors. Moreover, self-objectification significantly mediated the associations between both GNA variables and sexual risk behaviors, whereas body fat dissatisfaction did not. Our findings indicate that as queer Asian American men engage with GNAs intensively and for sex-seeking purposes, they are more likely to adopt self-objectification beliefs and behaviors, which in turn are associated with increased sexual risk activities. The present study provides a nuanced understanding of risk factors that drive queer Asian American men's sexual risk behaviors, highlighting recommendations for future research, clinical implications, and prevention efforts.