Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2233 - Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking | ||||
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Session: 18.3: Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking (Symposium) on Wednesday @ 14.30-16.00 in C202 Chaired by Maria Koulentianou, Joseph Lau Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Philippe CG Adam - UNSW AUSTRALIA, Australia |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Sexual risk-taking with partners met online is frequent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and has often been seen as simply an effect of increased opportunities offered by the Internet. Previous research shows however that the dynamics of online chatting can promote sexual risk-taking among HIV negative MSM, over and above their intentions to using condom. Of particular importance in terms of subsequent risk-taking are the information posted on dating profiles, the extent of online fantasising about unprotected sex, and whether chat partners clarify/confirm condom use before meeting face-to-face. This study assessed the value of using a self-regulation intervention framework to mitigate the potential negative influence of meeting sexual partners online on sexual risk-taking among MSM. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The intervention framework was derived from a study among 932 MSM in Australia that explored patterns of online dating/hooking-up and factors associated with sexual risk-taking with partners met online. The intervention consisted of encouraging MSM to be clear about their intention to use condoms on their dating profile, to avoid online fantasising with potential sex partners about unprotected sex, and to clarify/confirm condom use before meeting partners face-to-face. In a first study, we assessed the acceptability of the intervention framework in a sample of 153 MSM aged 18-29 years and recruited on Facebook. Participants were exposed to non-prescriptive self-regulation messages embedded in personal constructed narratives of young gay men. In a second study, we assessed the effect of the intervention in a separate sample of 100 MSM aged 18-29 years also recruited on Facebook. Participants were randomly allocated to either the self-regulation intervention or a control condition. After exposure, participants reported on Likert-type questions their intentions to adopt a range of behaviours (‘I will indicate on my profile that I want to use condoms’, ‘‘I will not fantasise about unprotected sex when chatting with guys I want to meet’, ‘I will mention condoms in the last message I send before meeting a guy’). Intention scores were compared between the two arms. Due to the low number of participants, all results significant at p<.1 will be presented. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Most participants in Study one perceived the intervention as relevant and acceptable but some participants were concerned that they could lose sex opportunities. To overcome this possibility, the content of the intervention was revised before being tested for efficacy. In the second study, participants exposed to the intervention had higher intention to make clear on one’s profile that they wanted to use condoms than participants in the control group (Beta=.237, p=.005). Exposed participants also had marginally higher intention to clarify/confirm condom use with partners before meeting face-to-face (Beta=.154, p=.055). | ||||
| Discussion: Considering the limited number of participants enrolled, the previous findings are very encouraging. The intervention was found to be acceptable and effective in motivating participants to adopt two self-regulation behaviours that protect towards unplanned risk-taking risk with partners met online. The proposed framework could inform the development of large scale campaigns for MSM who meet their partners online in Australia, and elsewhere. | ||||
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