Sexual Decision-Making in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

How Moral Concerns and Sexual Motives Guide Intended Condom Use with Steady and Casual Sex Partners

Bibliographic Data

ID8355186
AuthorsNicole M C Van Kesteren, Harm J Hospers (Maastricht University), Pepijn Van Empelen (0000-0002-9809-7650, Leiden University), Gerard van Breukelen (0000-0003-0949-0272, Maastricht University), Gerjo Kok (0000-0002-3501-4096, Maastricht University)
Year2007
Volume36
Issue3
Pages437-449
Publication date2007-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchives of Sexual Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-0002 • E-ISSN: 1573-2800
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10508-006-9125-4
PMID17333328
PMCIDPMC1914258
OpenAlexW2114567122
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited35

Determinants of intended condom use with steady and casual sex partners were examined among Dutch HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) (N = 296). Given the proposition that safer sex behavior among HIV-positive people is a form of prosocial behavior, the present study extended the general framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior with Schwartz's norm-activation theory and tested the assumption that personal norms would mediate the effects of other psychosocial factors on intended condom use for anal sex. In addition, it was hypothesized that, depending on the context in which sex occurs, specific motives for unprotected anal sex may have a negative influence on intended condom use and, as such, undermine a prosocial tendency to practice safer sex. Therefore, we also investigated the influence of sexual motives for unprotected anal sex on intended condom use with steady and casual sex partners. Results indicated that the Theory of Planned Behavior adequately predicted condom use intentions (for casual sex partners and steady sex partners, the explained variance was 52% and 53%, respectively). However, our proposed model of sexual decision-making significantly improved the prediction of behavioral intentions. For steady and casual sex partners, the assumption of the mediating role of personal norms on condom use intention was confirmed empirically. Additionally, sexual motives for unprotected anal sex exerted, as expected, a direct, negative effect on condom use intention with casual sex partners. The implications of the findings for future research and the development of HIV-prevention programs for HIV-positive MSM are discussed

Casual · Condom · Developmental psychology · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Human sexuality · Men who have sex with men · Prosocial behavior · Theory of planned behavior · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology