Assessing Gay and Bisexual Men's Outcome Expectancies for Sexual Risk Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs

Abstract

Alcohol and substance use plays a complex role in sexual behavior among gay and bisexual men. Data from 779 gay and bisexual men who reported sex with a casual partner in the past 3 months were collected in November 2002 at two large lesbian, gay, and bisexual community events in New York City. Participants reporting any unprotected anal receptive or insertive sex scored significantly higher in outcome expectancies for sexual risk taking while using drugs or alcohol, as did HIV-positive men and men with a higher rate of lifetime sexually transmitted infections. Sexual compulsivity, romantic obsessions, drug use, unprotected anal receptive sex, and HIV serostatus successfully predicted outcome expectancies for sexual risk while under the influence. Therapists and other health and social service providers working with gay and bisexual men should explore the connection between sexual risk and being under the influence to uncover psychosocial mechanisms related to this phenomenon.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• bisexual
• drugs
• gay
• outcome expectancies
• sexual risk
• unproected sex

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David S. Bimbi

David S. Bimbi, M.A., Ph.D.(c), is a doctoral candidate in Social-Personality Psychology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). Mr. Bimbi began his career as an HIV peer educator during his undergraduate studies. Since then he has served as project director for several studies at the Hunter College Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). These studies have focused on the sexual lives of HIV-positive men who have sex with men, Internet-based male sex workers, sexual compulsivity among gay and bisexual men, and the lives of urban gays and lesbians. Outside of research, Mr. Bimbi is currently a board member for a local community-based organization that provides programming for people living with HIV, transgendered persons, and GLBTQ youth.

Jose E. Nanin

Jose E. Nanin, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Health Education at Kingsborough Community College and the Director of Education and Training for the Hunter College Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). Dr. Nanin has been in the field of HIV education, research, and counseling since 1988, having worked in community-based organizations, academic institutions, and local government. His current work focuses on HIV risk and protective behaviors among men who have sex with men and communities of color. He is also a certified health education specialist (CHES) and a trainer in the use of motivational interviewing for HIV risk reduction. He also serves as an executive committee member of the New York City HIV Prevention Planning Group.

Jeffrey T. Parsons

Jeffrey T. Parsons, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Hunter College and the Graduate Center–CUNY. He is also the Founder and Director of the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). Dr. Parsons has been working in the field of HIV/AIDS, conducting behavioral research and evaluating the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to reduce HIV transmission since 1992. His work has focused on various populations of those living with HIV (persons with hemophilia, gay and bisexual men, alcohol and other drug abusers, youth). In addition, he has conducted research on male sex workers, sexual compulsivity, and club drug use among young adults.

Kalil J. Vicioso

Kalil J. Vicioso, M.A., is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) and has worked as a research assistant at the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST) where he studied HIV medication adherence among alcohol abusers, club drug use, and sexual risk behaviors.

Whitney Missildine

Whitney Missildine, M.A., is a doctoral student in Social/Personality Psychology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) and has worked as a research assistant at the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST) where he studied disclosure of HIV status among injection drug users, HIV medication adherence, and club drug use.

David M. Frost

David M. Frost, B.A., is a doctoral student in Social/Personality Psychology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) and has worked as a research assistant at the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST) where he studied HIV medication adherence, club drug use, and sexual risk behaviors among gay and bisexual men.