Relationship between treatment optimism and HIV risk behavior among MSM

Approximately 56,300 people were newly infected with HIV in 2006 and over half of the new infections occurred among gay and bisexual men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). The treatment of HIV has modified the natural course of the disease which has lead to a change in the attitudes and behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM). The success of the new treatments in improving the quality of life and prolonging life expectancy of HIV infected persons might be minimizing the gravity of risk in acquiring HIV infection. This sense of diminished vulnerability might be a contributing factor in the loss of motivation to practice safe sex. The study was conducted to predict extent of risky behaviors of MSM such as unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and number of partners during the past year, based on their perceived level of treatment optimism. The survey was a paper and pencil self report instrument which included a variety of demographic information, HIV risk behavior (e.g., unprotected anal intercourse) and theoretically related variables (e.g., perceived severity and transmissibility of HIV, alcohol and drug use). The sample was one of convenience, the survey was distributed at a Gay Pride celebration. Results indicated that there was a weak, but statistically significant negative correlation between unprotected anal intercourse and treatment optimism (Spearman's r = -.232, p<.01) interpretively, for these participants, despite their high level of treatment optimism, they had few unprotected anal sex encounters.