Is what I watch related to what I do? Preliminary findings of exposure to X-rated movies and risky sexual behaviors

Background: Empirical data examining the association between X-rated movies and risky behaviors focuses mainly on adolescents and college students. This study explores the pattern of associations between viewing X-rated movies and HIV/STD behaviors of adult African-American men. Methods: Eighty men, 18-29 years, completed an ACASI assessing sociodemographics, exposure to X-rated movies, sexual behaviors, STD history, and alcohol/drug use and provided a urine specimen tested for STDs. Independent sample t-tests and contingency table analyses identified differences in HIV/STD behaviors among men who reported X-rated movie exposure, relative to those with no exposure, in the past three months. Results: Men viewing X-rated movies had higher scores for condom barriers (p=0.03) and sexual adventurism (p=0.092), higher frequency of sex in the past three months (p=0.007), alcohol use (p=0.008), frequency of sex while drinking (p=0.009), sexual partners in the past three months (p=0.069) and less condom use with casual partners while drinking (p=0.0001). They were also 3.2 times as likely to be hazardous drinkers (p=0.018), 1.3 times as likely to have been sexually concurrent (p=0.06), 3.2 times as likely to test STD positive (p=0.07), and 30% less likely to use condoms consistently while drinking (p=0.065). Conclusions: Exposure to sexually explicit media was primarily associated with risky sexual behaviors. These preliminary findings are intriguing in light of the small sample. Interventions emphasizing responsible media involvement may be an effective strategy in reducing HIV-risk behaviors among African-American adult men. Larger studies are needed to more precisely assess the impact of X-rated movie exposure on HIV/STD behaviors.