TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Mental Health, and Motives for Sex on Sexual Risk-Taking Among United States Men Who Have Sex with Women
AU - Neilson, Elizabeth C.
AU - Schraufnagel, Trevor J.
AU - George, William H.
AU - Davis, Kelly Cue
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding (R37AA025212) was provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to the fourth author (K.C. Davis). Funding (R01AA017608) to support data collection was provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to the fourth author (K. C. Davis). The first author (E. C. Neilson) was supported by funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences while analyzing data and writing the manuscript (#8P20GM103436).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This study assessed the role of mental health symptoms and motives for sex in the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual risk-taking among men who have sex with women (MSW). The sample consisted of young adult (ages 21 to 30), non-monogamous MSW (N = 532) who reported having condomless sex at least once in the past year. Due to alcohol-related aims from two larger studies from which the data were analyzed, participation was excluded to men who regularly consumed alcohol (3 to 35 weekly drinks) and reported no symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Participants answered background questionnaires in lab and then completed a six-week, follow-up survey assessing the number of sex partners and condom use during the prior six weeks. CSA survivors reported greater mental health symptoms and sex motives related to coping, self-affirmation, and partner approval relative to non-survivors. CSA, sex for partner approval, and sex to enhance motives were positively associated with the number of sex partners. Participants endorsing self-affirmation sex motives reported higher condom use than those who did not. CSA contributes to long-term mental and sexual health outcomes among MSW. Identifying and treating depressive and anxiety symptoms and motives for sex may improve sexual health among CSA survivors.
AB - This study assessed the role of mental health symptoms and motives for sex in the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual risk-taking among men who have sex with women (MSW). The sample consisted of young adult (ages 21 to 30), non-monogamous MSW (N = 532) who reported having condomless sex at least once in the past year. Due to alcohol-related aims from two larger studies from which the data were analyzed, participation was excluded to men who regularly consumed alcohol (3 to 35 weekly drinks) and reported no symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Participants answered background questionnaires in lab and then completed a six-week, follow-up survey assessing the number of sex partners and condom use during the prior six weeks. CSA survivors reported greater mental health symptoms and sex motives related to coping, self-affirmation, and partner approval relative to non-survivors. CSA, sex for partner approval, and sex to enhance motives were positively associated with the number of sex partners. Participants endorsing self-affirmation sex motives reported higher condom use than those who did not. CSA contributes to long-term mental and sexual health outcomes among MSW. Identifying and treating depressive and anxiety symptoms and motives for sex may improve sexual health among CSA survivors.
KW - Childhood sexual abuse
KW - HIV
KW - mental health
KW - sex motives
KW - sexual risk
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U2 - 10.1080/10538712.2022.2155284
DO - 10.1080/10538712.2022.2155284
M3 - Article
C2 - 36515168
AN - SCOPUS:85144109329
SN - 1053-8712
VL - 32
SP - 3
EP - 21
JO - Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
JF - Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
IS - 1
ER -