De Wit J; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. WePeD4643.

J. De Wit, University of Utrecht, Dept. of Social & Organizational Psychology, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, Netherlands, Tel.: +31 30 253 9189, Fax: +31 30 253 7584, E-mail: j.dewit@fss.uu.nl

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a history of sexual abuse was related to sexual risk-taking among young homosexual men. At least two mechanisms can mediate this relation. Individuals may have lower concern for their health due to distress, which would result in a lower motivation to use condoms. Also, feelings of powerlessness, can result in lower perceived control regarding condom use. Methods: 299 men under the age of 30 participated in two waves of data collection, as part of a cohort study on HIV in Amsterdam. Prevalence and nature of abuse, as well as perpetrator characteristics were assessed at time 1. Incidence of abuse and UAI with casual and steady partners was assessed six months later. Results: 35.2% reported at least one episode of abuse. Unconsenting anal penetration was reported by 32.4% of these men, while 42.2 had been coerced to masturbate or perform oral sex on the perpetrator. Mean age at abuse was 18.8 years. Perpetrators mean age was 31.4 years and most often were unknown men (52.%%) or male friends/partners (34.7%). Incidence of sexual abuse was 9.1% over 6 months. Abuse was significantly related to increased risk with casual partners, F(1, 154) = 6.29, p>.01, and lover perceived control, F(1, 222) = 5.02, p>.05, but not to motivation. The impact of abuse on risk-taking was mediated by differences in control. Conclusions: Sexual abuse was frequently reported, and most often occurred during adolescence/early adulthood. Combined with the characteristics of the perpetrator, this suggests that abuse may be related to sexual initiation and socialization. This study also shows that abuse is related to higher levels of sexual risk, an effect that is mediated through its impact on feelings of control. The extent and seriousness of the signaled problem warrant rethinking of the way young gay men have to socialize into the homosexual community. More support

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adolescent
• Cohort Studies
• Condoms
• Data Collection
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Homosexuality
• Homosexuality, Male
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Risk-Taking
• Sex Offenses
• Sexual Behavior
• Substance-Related Disorders

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0003519

UI: 102241016

From Meeting Abstracts