Age and Judgments of Attractiveness as Factors of HIV Preventive Behavior Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

Gideon A. Feldstein BM Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), ; Graduate Center of the City University of New York,

Jeffrey T. Parsons PhD Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), ; Graduate Center of the City University of New York, ; Hunter College of the City University, New York, USA

David S. Bimbi MA Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), ; Graduate Center of the City University of New York,

Jose E. Nanin EdD, CHES Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST),

Cynthia A. Gomez PhD University of California, San Francisco, USA

Abstract

An ethnically diverse sample (N = 250) of HIV seropositive men who have sex with men (MSM) in the New York City and San Francisco metropolitan areas were interviewed in depth to elicit their experiences regarding living with HIV and their sexuality. Topics included coping with HIV, factors influencing partner selection, and sexual risk behaviors. Analyses of these responses revealed several interrelated themes regarding age and physical appearance that naturally emerged. These themes included: (1) protecting younger sexual partners from HIV infection compared with older partners; (2) assumptions regarding the HIV status of younger casual sex partners; (3) disclosure of HIV serostatus by older men; and (4) issues regarding sexual desirability and physical appearance. These findings point to the direct impact that age and sexual desirability have on sexual decision-making on intergenerational sexual encounters among HIV-seropositive MSM.

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Age and Judgments of Attractiveness as Factors of HIV Preventive Behavior Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

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Age and Judgments of Attractiveness as Factors of HIV Preventive Behavior Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

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