Psychosocial Support, Sexual Health, and HIV Risk among Older Men Who Have Sex with Younger Men

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 68; no. 14; pp. 2490 - 2508
• Main Authors: James, Drexler, Rosentel, Kris, VandeVusse, Alicia, Motley, Darnell N., Hill, Brandon J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 06-12-2021; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Age mixing; Emotional support; Financial support; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; intergenerational; Males; Men; men who have sex with men; Older men; Older people; PrEP; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial support; Sexual behavior; Sexual health; Sexual health promotion; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Willingness; Age mixing; PrEP; HIV; men who have sex with men; intergenerational
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2020.1809890

This study examines the extent to which older males are willing to offer psychosocial and sexual health promoting support to their younger male partners, as well as the individual and relationship-level factors associated with this willingness to provide support. In total, 324 men over the age of 45, who currently or previously had younger male sexual partners, completed an anonymous online survey. Results show that participants were most willing to provide emotional support to their younger male partners, followed by health-related encouragement, HIV/STI testing support, and financial support. Of note, HIV positive status and being in a "main partnership" were associated with greater willingness to provide financial support. These results suggest that older men are willing to provide psychosocial and health promotive support to younger male partners, which could be leveraged in targeted interventions to reduce HIV transmission.