Open, Closed, or In Between: Relationship Configuration and Condom Use Among Men Who Use the Internet to Seek Sex with Men

• Published in: AIDS and behavior Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 1499 - 1514
• Main Authors: Brady, Sonya S., Iantaffi, Alex, Galos, Dylan L., Rosser, B. R. Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-05-2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Cheating; Condoms; Condoms - statistics & numerical data; Gays & lesbians; Health Psychology; Health Surveys; HIV; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Internet; Internet - statistics & numerical data; Interpersonal Relations; Logistic Models; Male; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Original Paper; Personal relationships; Prevention; Public Health; Responsibility; Risk-Taking; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Networking; Social Networks; Socioeconomic Factors; STD; Trust; United States; Unsafe Sex - statistics & numerical data; Urban Population; Young Adult; Men who have sex with men (MSM); Internet; Condom; Infidelity; Relationship
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-012-0316-9

Nearly 70 % of HIV+ men who have sex with men (MSM) are estimated to have contracted HIV from a main partner. We examine whether condom use varies by relationship configuration, including open relationships with and without cheating. 656 MSM in committed relationships were recruited through a sexually explicit social networking website. Of the 55 % of MSM who had anal sex with a non-main partner in the past 90 days, two-thirds did not use a condom. Adjusting for covariates, MSM in relationships characterized as open with cheating versus monogamous were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with both main and non-main partners. MSM who perceived that their partner played around or cheated were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with a non-main partner. Prevention messages should attempt to reduce cheating and increase personal responsibility for protecting partners from HIV. Messages should be tailored to reflect open and monogamous relationships.