Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sensation seeking as a moderator of internet use on sexual risk taking among men who have sex with men

  • Other Articles
  • Published:
Sexuality Research & Social Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests an association between online sex seeking and risk for HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), although relatively little is known about which Internet-use behaviors are related to such risk or about the processes underlying the relationship. This study tested the effects of Internet sex seeking on risk taking with sex partners met online and sought to determine whether sensation seeking directly affects or moderates those effects. Forty-five MSM completed a 28-day daily web diary of their Internet use and sexual behavior, as well as a measure of sexual sensation seeking. Intention to go online seeking sex predicted more episodes of anal sex; MSM offering men sex while online predicted their having unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Sexual sensation seeking moderated the relation between Internet-use factors and UAI. Thus, MSM who go online to meet sex partners may be important targets for HIV interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bancroft, J., Jansenn, E., Strong, D., Carens, L., Vukadinovic, Z., & Long, J. S. (2003). Sexual risk- taking in gay men: The relevance of sexual arousability, mood, and sensation-seeking. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 555–572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benotsch, E. G., Kalichman, S., & Cage, M. (2002). Men who have met sex partners via the Internet: Prevalence, predictors, and implications for HIV prevention. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 177–183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, A., Horvath, K. J., & Williams, M. (in press). A randomized control trial of Internet delivered HIV prevention targeting rural MSM. Health Education Research.

  • Bull, S. S., & McFarlane, M. (2000). Soliciting sex on the Internet: What are the risks for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV? Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 27, 545–550.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bull, S. S., McFarlane, M., & Rietmeijer, C. (2001). HIV and sexually transmitted infection risk behaviors among men seeking sex with men on-line. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 988–999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalheira, A., & Gomes, F. A. (2003). Cybersex in Portuguese chatrooms: A study of sexual behaviors related to online sex. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 29, 345–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catania, J. A., Binson, D., van der Straten, A., & Stone, V. (1995). Methodological research on sexual behavior in the AIDS era. Annual Review of Sex Research, 6, 77–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). HIV/AIDS surveillance report, 2004 (Vol. 16). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A. (1998). Sexuality and the Internet: Surfing into the new millennium. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 1, 187–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donohew, L., Zimmerman, R., Cupp, P. S., Novak, S., Colon, S., & Abell, R. (2000). Sensation-seeking, impulsive decision-making, and risky sex: Implications for risk-taking and design of interventions. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 1079–1091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekstrand, M., Stall, R., Paul, J. P., Osmond, D. H., & Coates, T. (1999). Gay men report high rates of unprotected anal sex with partners of unknown or discordant HIV status. AIDS, 13, 1525–1533.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elford, J., Bolding, G., & Sherr, L. (2001). Seeking sex on the Internet and sexual risk behaviour among gay men using London gyms. AIDS, 15, 1409–1415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, A., Wiggins, R., Mercer, C., Bolding, G., & Elford, J. (2006). Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Britain: A comparison of national probability and self-selected Internet samples [Abstract]. Proceedings of the XVI International AIDS Conference, Toronto, CA, 16, 363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, M. I., Varga, L. M., Perrino, T., Collazo, J. B., Subiaul, F., Rehbein, A., et al. (2004). The Internet as recruitment tool for HIV studies: Viable strategy for reaching at-risk Hispanic MSM in Miami? AIDS Care, 16, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, S., & Smith, G. T. (2004). Deliberation affects risk- taking beyond sensation-seeking. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 527–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garry, M., Sharman, S. J., Feldman, J., Marlatt, G. A., & Loftus, E. F. (2002). Examining memory for heterosexual college students’ sexual experiences using an electronic mail diary. Health Psychology, 21, 629–634.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halkitis, P. N., & Parsons, J. T. (2003). Intentional unsafe sex (barebacking) among HIV-positive gay men who seek sexual partners on the Internet. AIDS Care, 15, 367–378.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hogg, R. S., Weber, A. E., Chan, K., Martindale, S., Cook, D., Miller, M. L., et al. (2001). Increasing incidence of HIV infections among young gay and bisexual men in Vancouver. AIDS, 15, 1321–1322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hospers, H. J., Harterink, P., van den Hoek, K., & Veenstra, J. (2002). Chatters on the Internet: A special target group for HIV prevention. AIDS Care, 14, 539–544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, M., De Wit, J., Stroebe, W.,&, Van Griensven, F. (2000). Educational status and risk of HIV in young gay men. Journal of Health Psychology, 5, 487–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S., Adair, V., Rompa, D., Multhauf, K., Johnson, J., & Kelly, J. (1994). Sexual sensation-seeking: Scale development and predicting AIDS-risk behavior among homosexually active men. Journal of Personality Assessment, 62, 385–397.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., & Rompa, D. (1995). Sexual sensation-seeking and sexual compulsivity scales: Reliability, validity, and predicting HIV risk behavior. Journal of Personality Assessment, 65, 586–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, M. H., McFarland, W., Guillin, V., Fenstersheib, M., Shaw, M., Kellogg, T., et al. (1998). Continuing high prevalence of HIV and risk behaviors among young men who have sex with men: The young men’s survey in the San Francisco Bay area in 1992 to 1993 and in 1994 to 1995. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology, 19, 178–181.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, M. H., Schwarcz, S. K., Kellogg, T. A., Klausner, J. D., Dilley, J. W., Gibson, S., et al. (2002). Impact of highly active antiretroviral treatment on HIV seroincidence among men who have sex with men: San Francisco. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 388–394.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, A. A., Kent, C., McFarland, W., & Klausner, J. D. (2001). Cruising the Internet highway. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 28, 89–93.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, S. A. (1999). Internet gambling and pornography: Illustrative examples of the psychological consequences of communication anarchy. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 2, 175–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koblin, B. A., Torian, L. V., Guilin, V., Ren, L., MacKellar, D. A., & Valleroy, L. A. (2000). High prevalence of HIV infection among young gay men who have sex with men in New York City. AIDS, 14, 1793–1800.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Konstan, J. A., Rosser, B. R. S., Ross, M. W., Stanton, J., and Edwards, W. M. (2005). The story of Subject Naught: A cautionary but optimistic tale of Internet survey research. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(2), Article 11. Retrieved September 6, 2005, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue2/konstan.html

  • Lau, J. T. F., Kim, J. H., Lau, M., & Tsui, H. Y. (2003). Prevalence and risk behaviors of Chinese men who seek same-sex partners via the Internet in Hong Kong. AIDS Education and Prevention, 15, 516–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mansergh, G., Marks, G., Colfax, G. N., Guzman, R., Rader, M., & Buchbinder, S. (2002). “Barebacking” in a diverse sample of men who have sex with men. AIDS, 16, 653–659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCoul, M. D., & Haslam, N. (2001). Predicting high risk sexual behaviour in heterosexual and homo-sexual men: The roles of impulsivity and sensation-seeking. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 1303–1310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, M., Bull, S. S., & Rietmeijer, C. A. (2000). The Internet as a newly emerging risk environment for sexually transmitted diseases. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 443–446.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, M., Bull, S. S., & Rietmeijer, C. A. (2002). Young adults on the Internet: Risk behaviors for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 11–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, M., Ross, M., & Elford, J. (2004). The Internet and HIV/STD prevention. AIDS Care, 16, 1–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLaws, M. L., Oldenburg, B., Ross, M. W., & Cooper, D. A. (1990). Sexual behaviour in AIDS-related research: Reliability and validity of recall and diary measures. Journal of Sex Research, 27, 265–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mettey, A., Crosby, R., DiClemente, R. J., & Holtgrave, D. R. (2003). Associations between Internet sex-seeking and STI associated risk behaviours among men who have sex with men. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 79, 466–468.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nagelkerke, N. J. D. (1991). A note on a general definition of the coefficient of determination. Biometrika, 78, 691–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naglieri, J. A., Drasgow, F., Schmit, M., Handler, L., Prifitera, A., Margolis, A., et al. (2004). Psychological testing on the Internet. American Psychologist, 59, 150–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pequegnat, W., Rosser, B. R. S., Bowen, A., Bull, S. S., DiClemenete, R. J., Bockting, W. O., et al. (in press). Internet-based HIV/STD prevention survey lessons: Practical challenges and opportunities. AIDS & Behavior.

  • Reis, H. T., & Gable, S. L. (2000). Event sampling and other methods for studying everyday experience. In H. T. Reis & C. M. Judd (Eds.), Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology (pp. 190–222). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Teruzzi, T., & Anolli, L. (2003). The use of the Internet in psychological research: Comparison of online and offline questionnaires. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6, 73–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberti, J. W. (2004). A review of behavioral and biolog- ical correlates of sensation-seeking. Journal of Research in Personality, 38, 256–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. (2005). Typing, being, and doing: Sexuality and the Internet. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 342–352.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W., Mansson, S. A., Daneback, K., Cooper, A., & Tikkanen, R. (2005). Biases in Internet sexual health samples: Comparison of an Internet sexuality survey and a national sexual health survey in Sweden. Social Science and Medicine, 61, 245–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tikkanen, R., & Ross, M. W. (2000). Looking for sexual compatibility: Experiences among Swedish men in visiting Internet gay chat rooms. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3, 605–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tikkanen, R., & Ross, M. W. (2003). Technological tea- room trade: Characteristics of Swedish men visiting gay Internet chat rooms. AIDS Education and Prevention, 15, 122–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toomey, K. E., & Rothenberg, R. B. (2000). Sex and cyberspace—Virtual networks leading to high-risk sex. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 485–487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expression and biosocial bases of sensation-seeking. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, 55403, Minneapolis, MN

    Keith J. Horvath

  2. School of Social Work, University of Washington, 4101 15th Avenue NE, Box 354900, 98105-6299, Seattle, WA

    Blair Beadnell

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3415, 1000 E. University Ave., 82071, Laramie, WY

    Anne M. Bowen

Authors
  1. Keith J. Horvath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Blair Beadnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anne M. Bowen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith J. Horvath.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Horvath, K.J., Beadnell, B. & Bowen, A.M. Sensation seeking as a moderator of internet use on sexual risk taking among men who have sex with men. Sex Res Soc Policy 3, 77–90 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2006.3.4.77

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2006.3.4.77

Key words

Search

Navigation