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Donald Allensworth-Davies, MSc, Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., 580, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 638-5816, ddavies7@bu.edu, Seth L. Welles, PhD, ScD, Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St. 3TE, Boston, MA 02118, Wendy L Hellerstedt, MPH, PhD, Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 S. Second St., Minneapolis, MN 55454, and Michael W. Ross, PhD, MPH, Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, UCT 2514, 7000 Fanning, Houston, TX 77030.
We explored the association between self-reported body image and unsafe anal intercourse in a group of 377 men who have sex with men (MSMs) and completed a survey as part of a larger randomly selected group at the 1998 Twin Cities GLBT Pride festival. All MSMs had sex at least once in the month prior to the survey, were predominantly white (88.3%) and gay (98.1%), and of diverse age (median: 34 yrs; 25%-75%: 29-41 yrs) and education (8.8% high school or less, 31.8% trade school/some college, 59.4% at least college graduate). Perceived body image was based on body shape drawings from the Figure Rating Scale included in the survey. Unsafe intercourse was defined as unprotected anal intercourse with either a committed, primary partner of serodiscordant or unknown status, or any secondary sex partner. Compared to those perceiving themselves as average weight (n=263), MSMs identifying as underweight (n=50) had greater odds of desiring to be underweight (OR=8.72, 95% CI=4.50, 16.88, p<0.0001), and had lower odds of being dissatisfied with their weight (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.19, 0.72, p=0.0024) and engaging in unsafe anal intercourse (AOR=0.24, 95% CI=0.09, 0.65, p=0.0048). These findings suggest that greater body satisfaction in MSMs perceiving themselves as underweight may allow them to more objectively select sex partners/activities, thus decreasing their risk of unsafe sex. Our results indicate that body image and body satisfaction may be important, potentially modifiable, indicators of sexual behaviors among MSMs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Gay Men, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.