Predicting high risk sexual behaviour in heterosexual and homosexual men: the roles of impulsivity and sensation seeking

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Abstract

Impulsivity and sexual sensation seeking were examined as personality correlates of high risk sexual behaviour — unprotected sex with multiple partners — in samples of heterosexual (n=112) and homosexual (n=104) men. Among heterosexuals, both personality variables were associated with frequency of unprotected sex but only sexual sensation seeking was associated with number of sex partners. Sexual sensation seeking also mediated the association between use of drugs other than alcohol and number of sex partners. Among homosexuals, no personality or substance use variables predicted high risk sexual behaviour. Implications of the findings for the study of determinants of sexual risk-taking are discussed.

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Participants

Separate samples of 112 heterosexual and 104 homosexual men were recruited for an anonymous, unpaid study of sexual behaviour by fliers and oral presentations by the first author at a variety of venues in the New York metropolitan area. These venues included colleges, adult education classes, community centres, community groups, and gyms. The resulting heterosexual and homosexual samples were comparable with respect to education (69.3 vs. 80.6% having at least a bachelor's degree), relationship

Materials

Participants completed a demographic data form and four previously validated instruments in public spaces (e.g. classrooms, reception areas) at their recruitment sites. They typically did so directly following an oral recruitment presentation or during a routine visit for those recruited by flier. Consequently no special travel was required for participants. Impulsivity was assessed with the Eysenck Impulsivity Scale (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1977), a 24-item measure that is unifactorial, has a

Results

Comparison of the two samples indicates that they did not differ on impulsivity, frequency of alcohol use prior to unprotected sex, frequency of unprotected sex (homosexual mean=5.2 [S.D.=14.1], heterosexual mean=7.5 [S.D.=17.3]), number of unprotected sex partners (homosexual mean=0.47 [S.D.=0.61], heterosexual mean=0.38 [S.D.=0.49]), all t(214)s < 1.85, P>0.05, or proportion engaging in unprotected sex (32.1% of heterosexuals, 38.5% of homosexuals; χ2(1)=0.94, P> 0.05). These means and

Discussion

The findings of the present study provide mixed support for the role of the personality variables in the prediction of high risk sexual behaviour. On the one hand, consistent with prediction and past research (e.g. Clift et al., 1993, Horvath and Zuckerman, 1993), impulsivity and sexual sensation seeking showed some associations with both of the study's indices of risky sexual behaviour, and the latter mediated the effect of drug use on risky behaviour in one sample. On the other hand,

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