Study looks at social and sexual behaviour of users of gay and bisexual sex seeking apps and websites.
Vancouver, B.C. [December 19, 2016] New research from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) counters the notion that gay and bisexual men who seek sex online are less likely to engage broadly with the gay community. The research-based on the Momentum Health Study of Vancouver’s gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men-shows gay and bisexual men generally view both online sex seeking and in-person socialization (going to gay bars or events hosted by gay-specific groups) as important activities.
The survey of 774 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (recruited in the Metro Vancouver region through respondent-driven sampling) found:
- Two-thirds reported using apps or websites to seek sex within the past six months;
- Three-quarters read gay media and attended gay bars;
- Over half attended annual pride events; and
- One-third attended an event or meeting hosted by a gay-specific group.
“What is interesting is this research shows participating in online activities does not necessarily mean it deprives individuals of their offline social and community attachments,” said Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, an Associate Researcher with the BC-CfE and author on the paper.
The study-published in Sexual Health and conducted as part of doctorate research led by BC-CfE Research Assistant Kiffer Card-found more frequent attendance at gay bars and clubs and more frequent consumption of gay news media might actually be associated with online sex seeking. Individuals who were more likely to seek sex online were also more likely to be younger and single, have higher education, spend more social time with other gay and bisexual men, have more Facebook friends and-notably-identify less with the collective gay community.
“This study indicates individuals who were more frequent users of apps and websites for seeking sex were less likely to self-identify strongly with the gay community,” said Dr. Lachowsky.”More research is needed to determine how to promote stronger emotional attachment to the gay community as a means of building more sexual altruism. This could in turn facilitate more preventative behaviour, such as using condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP].”
Online-sex-seeking men were more likely to engage in condomless anal sex and had lower communal altruism (defined as interest in the sexual health of their partners). However, they were more likely to use other methods to prevent the transmission of HIV including strategic positioning, serosorting (choosing sexual partners based on their HIV status) and/or viral load sorting (engaging in sexual relationships only with partners who had achieved HIV viral load suppression through sustained treatment).
The research provides information on how to provide more prevention and education around HIV to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. For example, a key strategy to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases could be to identify frequent internet users who are more likely to go to multiple venues in the gay community.
About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE-https://bccfe.ca) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians.
For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:
Caroline Dobuzinskis, BC-CfE
Cell: 604-366-6540, Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Email: cdobuzin@bccfe.ca
-END-