Sexual compulsivity and high-risk sex among Latino men: the role of internalized homonegativity and gay organizations

Abstract

The objective of this studywas to measure the correlation between compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and internalized homonegativity(IH) and determine their association with unprotected anal intercourse in Latino men who have sex with men. Nine hundred sixty-three Latino men completed an Internet survey (MINTS study) in 2002 and provided data on two scale exposures. Logistic regression was used to test interactions and generate effect estimates. Higher IH and association with gayorganizations modified the effect of CSB on high-risk sex. Drug and alcohol use also contributed to risk behavior for this subgroup. Overall, CSB had a strong association with high-risk sex. IH and gayorganization membership maymoderate this relationship, which illuminates an additional factor to consider in studying sexual risk-taking. Further work is needed to validate a path from IH and high-risk sex that incorporates drug or alcohol use.

Keywords:

• sexual compulsivity
• homonegativity
• Latino
• men who have sex with men
• condom use

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Willo Pequegnat, PhD, project officer at NIMH, and the members of the original MINTS study team: Eli Coleman, Walter Bockting, Laura Gurak, Joseph Konstan, Michael Miner, Alex Carballo-Dieguez, Weston Edwards, Rafael Mazin, and Jeffrey Stanton. The Men's Internet Study (MINTS) was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS, grant number AG63688-01. All research was carried out with the approval of the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board, human subjects committee, study number 0102S83821.