Abstract
Recent meta-analytic work has endorsed a lack of any meaningful, direct relationship between internalized homonegativity (IH)
and high-risk sex. It may not be possible to observe a direct association, however, if heterogeneity in response to IH is
considered. This investigation used data from 1,669 men who have sex with men who completed an online survey of sexual behavior
in 2005 to consider two potential intermediate variables (compulsive sexual behavior [CSB] and the frequency of sexual partnering)
that could increase (CSB) and decrease (frequency of sexual partnering) the probability of having unprotected anal sexual
intercourse. We used Mplus (Version 5.1) to estimate confirmatory factor analysis and structural models. Statistical mediation models identified indirect
associations through both CSB (positive association) and the number of male sexual partners (negative association). The different
directions of association, when combined, cancelled out one another. This contributed to the observed lack of association
between IH and high-risk sexual behavior. Future work on risk behavior that incorporates IH will need to consider heterogeneity
in how individuals respond to the construct and how these different processes are associated with risk behavior.
and high-risk sex. It may not be possible to observe a direct association, however, if heterogeneity in response to IH is
considered. This investigation used data from 1,669 men who have sex with men who completed an online survey of sexual behavior
in 2005 to consider two potential intermediate variables (compulsive sexual behavior [CSB] and the frequency of sexual partnering)
that could increase (CSB) and decrease (frequency of sexual partnering) the probability of having unprotected anal sexual
intercourse. We used Mplus (Version 5.1) to estimate confirmatory factor analysis and structural models. Statistical mediation models identified indirect
associations through both CSB (positive association) and the number of male sexual partners (negative association). The different
directions of association, when combined, cancelled out one another. This contributed to the observed lack of association
between IH and high-risk sexual behavior. Future work on risk behavior that incorporates IH will need to consider heterogeneity
in how individuals respond to the construct and how these different processes are associated with risk behavior.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-010-9705-1
- Authors
- Derek J. Smolenski, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
- Melissa H. Stigler, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, University of Texas, Houston, TX USA
- Michael W. Ross, School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, TX USA
- B. R. Simon Rosser, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002