Attraction to Male Facial Masculinity in Gay Men in China: Relationship to Intercourse Preference Positions and Sociosexual Behavior

Distinctions are commonly made regarding preferences for insertive or receptive anal intercourse within gay male communities. Three sexual self-labels are typically specified: “top,” meaning a man who prefers the insertive role, “bottom,” meaning a man who prefers the receptive role, and “versatile,” meaning a man willing to perform either role. In this study, we examined the association between intercourse position preference and preference for male facial masculinity among 447 gay men across multiple cities in China. Each participant was shown 10 pairs of male faces sequentially, with each pair consisting of a masculinized and feminized version of the same base face. Tops preferred the feminized male face over the masculinized face, bottoms preferred the masculinized male face over the feminized face, and versatiles did not have a preference. Tops preferred more feminized male faces than did bottoms and versatiles. Preferences for male facial masculinity were also associated with sociosexual orientation and the nature of the associations differed by sex role preferences. Among tops, men who were less restricted preferred more feminine male faces compared to men who were more restricted. Among bottoms, men who were less restricted preferred more masculine male faces compared to men who were more restricted. Among versatiles, there was no association between sociosexual orientation and preferences for male facial masculinity. These findings provide new evidence that less sociosexually restricted men have stronger preferences for sexual dimorphism in the sexual partners they prefer than do more restricted men.     

The Relationship Between Intercourse Preference Positions and Personality Traits Among Gay Men in China

Distinctions are commonly made regarding preferences for insertive or receptive anal intercourse within the gay male community. Three sexual self-labels are typically specified: “top,” meaning a man who prefers the insertive position, “bottom,” meaning a man who prefers the receptive position, and “versatile,” meaning a man willing to perform either position. The aim of this study was to examine personality differences among these three groups in gay men in China. We sampled 220 Internet-obtained Chinese gay men on instrumentality, expressiveness, gender-related interests, self-ascribed masculinity- femininity (Self-MF), and Big Five personality traits. Significant differences were found among sexual self-label groups in sexual behavior and in gendered traits and interests. Tops scored higher than the bottoms on instrumentality, gender-related interests, and self-ascribed masculinity-femininity (Self-MF) and bottoms scored higher than tops on expressiveness. Versatiles’ scores in gender-related traits were intermediate between that of tops and bottoms. There were no significant differences in Big Five traits among the three groups. Sexual self-labels appear not only to distinguish sexual behavior patterns but may also suggest gender role differences among Chinese gay men.     

Sociosexuality in Women and Preference for Facial Masculinization and Somatotype in Men

Sociosexual orientation reflects individual differences in openness to short-term sexual relationships. We predicted that women with less restricted sociosexuality would be differentially attracted to highly masculinized male faces and bodies. In 2 studies, we investigated preference for male masculinization as a function of female sociosexuality. In Study 1, 40 female university students rated the attractiveness of pictures of male faces and somatotypes differing in masculinization level. All women preferred the faces with average levels of masculinity and the mesomorph somatotype; however, women with less restricted sociosexuality found the faces of men more attractive in general and showed relatively greater preference for masculinized bodies than did women with more restricted sociosexuality. In Study 2, 56 women met with 2 equally attractive male confederates, 1 highly masculinized and 1 less masculinized, in a “speed dating” scenario. After each date, women indicated their interest in each man for short-term and long-term relationships via questionnaire. In this more naturalistic context, sociosexuality was related to an increased interest for the more highly masculinized man in the context of short-term dating. Female sociosexuality appears to be related to preferences for higher levels of male masculinization.     

Self-Reported Sexual Desire in Homosexual Men and Women Predicts Preferences for Sexually Dimorphic Facial Cues

Recent studies investigating the relationship between self-reported sexual desire and attraction to same- and opposite-sex individuals have found that homosexual men’s sexual desire is positively correlated with their self-reported attraction to own-sex individuals only, while homosexual women’s sexual desire is positively correlated with their self-reported attraction to both men and women. These data have been interpreted as evidence that sexual desire strengthens men’s pre-existing (i.e., dominant) sexual behaviors and strengthens women’s sexual behaviors in general. Here we show that homosexual men’s (n = 106) scores on the Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2) were positively correlated with their preferences for exaggerated sex-typical shape cues in own-sex, but not opposite-sex, faces. Contrary to the hypothesis that sexual desire strengthens women’s preferences for sexual dimorphism generally, homosexual women’s (n = 83) SDI-2 scores were positively correlated with their preferences for exaggerated sex-typical shape cues in opposite-sex faces only. Together with previous research in heterosexual subjects, our findings support the proposal that sexual desire increases the incidence of existing sexual behaviors in homosexual and heterosexual men, and increases the incidence of sexual responses more generally in heterosexual women, although not necessarily in homosexual women.     

Birth Order in a Contemporary Sample of Gay Men

The birth order of a contemporary North American sample of 97 gay men was quantified using Slater's Index. For the 84 probands with at least one sibling, the results showed a late mean birth order compared with the expected value of .50. Additional birth order indices derived from Slater's Index suggested that the mean later birth order was accounted for more strongly by the proband's number of older brothers than by his number of older sisters. The present findings constitute a replication of a series of recent studies and add to the growing body of evidence that birth order is a reliable correlate of sexual orientation in males.     

Unprotected Anal Intercourse in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Gay Men: The Relevance of Sexual Arousability,Mood, Sensation Seeking,and Erectile Problems

Reduction of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in gay men infected with HIV is important in preventing further spread of this infection. In previous studies, personality trait measures relevant to sexual arousability and the effects of anxiety have been shown to relate to UAI in both gay and heterosexual men. Are HIV+ gay men similar in these respects or are there other personality-related factors that influence their sexual risk taking? This question was addressed using a convenience sample of 156 HIV+ gay men and 155 HIV? gay men, matched for age and UAI risk. There were no significant differences between these two groups on measures of sexual arousability, inhibition of sexual arousal in risky situations, sensation seeking, depression and anxiety proneness, or tendency to increased sexual interest in negative mood states. HIV+ men were, however, more likely to report erectile problems and higher scores on an associated trait measure, inhibition of arousal due to threat of performance failure. As this association was not anticipated, questions about whether erectile problems preceded the seroconversion were not asked. Such problems could be associated with reluctance to use condoms, thus increasing the likelihood of seroconversion and/or disease transmission. Alternatively, erectile problems could be a consequence of HIV infection. In each case, this has implications for prevention. The associations among HIV status, erectile problems, and UAI need to be specifically addressed in future research.     

Men Do not Have a Stronger Preference than Women for Self-resemblant Child Faces

Are men more likely than women to take into account a child’s facial resemblance to themselves when making hypothetical parental investment choices? The benefits of self-resemblance in decreasing relatedness uncertainty are larger in men than in women for direct descendants. However, they are identical in men and women for collateral relatives, such as siblings, cousins, nephews, and nieces; these individuals can also be the recipients of parental-like altruism, which comes primarily from women. Published data are contradictory. In the present study, 14 men and 14 women were shown child faces and asked to judge their attractiveness, adoptability, and familiarity. The faces had been digitally manipulated to resemble (at three different resemblance levels, two of which were under recognition threshold) either the experimental participant, an acquaintance, or strangers. We found a significant preference for self-resemblant children in women, but not in men. This was not an artefact of women being better at detecting self-resemblance, given that at the highest resemblance level more men than women recognized themselves. Overall, face preference increased with face familiarity; for self-resemblant faces, this correlation was not mediated by conscious self-recognition. We discuss how the fast-response, multiple-question procedure used in previous experiments may have led to reports of a much larger self-resemblance preference in men than in women.     

Explanations for the Origins of Sexual Compulsivity Among Gay and Bisexual Men

Sexual compulsivity (SC) is a condition characterized by sexual fantasies and behaviors that interfere with personal, interpersonal, or vocational pursuits. This article describes the ways in which gay and bisexual men with symptoms of SC understand and explain the origins of their condition. The data for this article were drawn from Project SPIN, a mixed-methods study of SC among 183 gay and bisexual men in New York City. The article provides an evaluation of how urban gay and bisexual men experience SC and describes how they think about it in their own words. These men articulated both intrinsic and extrinsic sources for the development of SC. Some participants endorsed a belief in a predisposition toward sexually compulsive behavior, whereas others identified factors such as emotional neglect, sexual abuse, or the availability and accessibility of sexual partners. These understandings may influence the ways in which SC can be treated, while also highlighting issues that may be critical in the identification and/or measurement of SC. Insights into the origins of SC may yield new therapeutic models that reduce not only the distress of contending with this condition but its negative health effects and impact on quality of life.     

Implicit and Explicit Measurements of Sexual Preference in Gay and Heterosexual Men: A Comparison of Priming Techniques and the Implicit Association Task

The present study examined how well implicit measures were able to predict sexual orientation. Most previous research in the sexual orientation domain has been dependent upon self-report, which requires explicit, conscious awareness of sexual orientation and/or erotic preferences. On the other hand, implicit measurements are thought to be able to reflect immediate automatic reactions that may not be available to introspection. A total of 50 heterosexual and 25 homosexual men completed two implicit measures: the Implicit Association Task (IAT) and the Priming Task (PT). Sexual orientation was determined by self-report. In the PT, participants classified words as either sexually attractive or unattractive. Each word was preceded by a "prime" that was a picture of either a male or a female. The IAT consisted of classifying these same words as sexually attractive or unattractive, and classifying the pictures as either male or female. Both the IAT and the PT had very good ability to predict sexual orientation with Area Under the Curves (AUC) of 0.97 and 0.86, respectively. Unlike many other reports of implicit measures of behavior, the IAT and the PT correlated strongly with each other, and also with the explicit measurements of sexual orientation. It was concluded that these implicit measures can provide a valuable tool for research into sexual orientation and erotic preference that can complement existing measures, such as self-report questionnaires and physiological changes in sexual arousal in response to erotic stimuli.     

History of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Unsafe Anal Intercourse in a 6-City Study of HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men

Objectives. We assessed rates of childhood sexual abuse and its demographic and mental health correlates among HIV-positive men who reported unsafe anal intercourse with other men in the past year.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 593 HIV-positive men who have sex with men enrolled in the Positive Connections intervention.Results. Childhood sexual abuse was reported by 47% of participants; 32% reported frequency as often or sometimes. Men reporting abuse were more likely to be Latino (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6, 4.2; P < .001) or African American (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.2, 2.7; P = .005) than White. Among those who were abused, more frequent abuse was associated with more sexual contacts (for each, rate ratio [RR] = 1.3; P < .001) and unsafe anal intercourse (often, RR = 1.5; sometimes, RR = 2.0; P < .001) compared with men who were not abused.Conclusions. History of childhood sexual abuse is highly prevalent among HIV-positive men who engage in risky sexual behavior with other men and appears to be more common among men of color. Our findings suggest that abuse is associated with a significantly increased risk of sexually transmitted infections.Considerable evidence suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) and who experienced childhood sexual abuse are at heightened risk for HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated sexual risk behaviors. Several publications have indicated that self-reported history of sexual abuse is indirectly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among diverse samples of MSM, such as attendees at targeted events and members of support organizations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents.^1–4These reports corroborate earlier studies that found that MSM who reported childhood sexual abuse were at higher risk of becoming HIV positive and engaged in higher rates of unprotected anal intercourse. Few of these studies have focused on whether a history of childhood sexual abuse among HIV-positive MSM is associated with unprotected anal intercourse with partners who are HIV negative.^5–8 In a study of HIV-positive MSM recruited at gay venues in San Francisco and New York City, O''Leary et al. found an association between a history of childhood sexual abuse and unprotected anal intercourse with partners who were HIV negative or of unknown infection status.⁹ With little other research published on the effect of childhood sexual abuse on unsafe sexual behavior among HIV-positive MSM, the generalizability of this report is unknown.Few studies have had an adequate overall sample size to address differences in reported rates of childhood sexual abuse by race/ethnicity with precision. In a study of more than 1000 predominantly HIV-negative MSM, Doll et al. reported higher rates of childhood sexual abuse among African American and Latino than White MSM.¹⁰ Surveillance reports reveal very high rates of diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infection among MSM of color^11,12; therefore it is critical to identify risk factors that may contribute to higher rates of unsafe sex among racial/ethnic subgroups of HIV-positive MSM.We examined the prevalence of self-reported history of childhood sexual abuse and the demographic and behavioral correlates of such abuse in a group of racially diverse HIV-positive MSM who reported anal intercourse with other men in the past year and who were enrolled in a weekend sexual health intervention to reduce unsafe sexual behavior. We hypothesized that men who reported childhood sexual abuse would also report higher rates of unprotected anal intercourse with men of HIV serodiscordant or unknown HIV infection status.     

医学生对男同性恋认知和态度量表编制

编制男同性恋的认知和态度量表并检验信度、效度,为评价对男同性恋的认知及态度提供可靠的测量工具.方法 通过文献复习和咨询专家意见,自行编制男同性恋认知和态度量表.随机整群抽取310名医学生进行测试,4种方法联合使用筛选条目.采用分层整群抽样方法,从天津市3所医学高校随机抽取医学本科生、研究生765名开展现场调查,评价量表的信度与效度.结果 同性恋认知量表分半信度为0.74,Cronbach'sα系数为0.86;对男同性恋态度量表的分半信度为0.82,Cronbach's α系数为0.96.通过探索性因子分析评价量表的结构效度,认知量表提取出性质认知(8项)、性交往认知(3项)及生存认知(4项)3个公因子,包含15项条目,累计方差贡献率为51.00%;态度量表提取出情感认同(13项)、权力认同(4项)、道德认同(5项)和社交认同(3项)4个公因子,包含25项条目,累计方差贡献率为68.40%.以ATG量表为效标,测得自编态度量表的效标效度为0.86.结论 自编的男同性恋认知和态度量表具有较好的信度与效度,具有一定的实际应用价值.     

Sexual Risk Behavior of Men Who have Sex with Men: Comparison of Behavior at Home and at a Gay Resort

This study compared sexual behavior of gay and bisexual men (N = 551) while at their primary residence to their behavior while vacationing at a gay resort community. Participants reported behavior for the days they spent in the resort and for their last 60 days in their home residences. Overall, 11 times more non-main partners were reported for unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) per day while in the resort as for the “at home” period. Regression analysis identified negative attitudes toward condoms, less concern about AIDS, and daily number of non-main, male partners at home with whom UAI occurred as significant predictors of the daily number of non-main male partners with whom holidaymakers engaged in UAI while in the resort area. The results suggest that sexual risk taking by men who have sex with men (MSM) while on holiday may be elevated over that at home and that prevention efforts need to be promoted in gay resorts. Behavioral surveillance research would be helpful in better characterizing the current social contexts of sexual risk taking by MSM. Theory-based studies of the nature of risk-taking and sexual decision-making on “gay holiday” could inform the development of empirically proven and conceptually grounded interventions.     

Pleasantness of the Odor of Androstenone as a Function of Sexual Intercourse Experience in Women and Men

Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) and other androstenes, body odor components occurring in apocrine secretions, may play a role in human chemosignaling. We hypothesized that the odor of androstenone may gain hedonic value from sexual intercourse experiences via associative learning. Young adults (N = 397, 61.5% women, age 21–24 years, randomly sampled regarding sexual experience) rated the intensity and pleasantness of the odors of androstenone, cinnamon, chocolate, isovaleric acid, lemon, and turpentine. Among women who were able to perceive androstenone, the odor was rated as more pleasant (less unpleasant) by those who had had experienced sexual intercourse with at least one partner (n = 175) than by those who reported never having experienced intercourse (n = 12, p = .006). The difference was specific to women. The results suggest that, among women, sexual experience may modify the pleasantness of the odor of androstenone.     

Preference for and Maintenance of Anal Sex Roles Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Sociodemographic and Behavioral Correlates

Self-labeling of, and preference for, anal sex roles is an important aspect of identities and cultures among men who have sex with men (MSM) populations. In this article, we examined sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of preference for and maintenance of anal sex roles, and risk for HIV infection. Using time-location sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of racially diverse MSM in San Francisco. Of the 386 men who reported an anal sex role preference, 41% preferred being “versatile” while 21 and 37% preferred being “bottom” and “top” only. Lower educated men, Asian/Pacific Islander men, and men born in Asia/Philippines were more likely to prefer being “bottom.” Among all racial/ethnic groups, men in general did not maintain their preferences 100% of the time in their reported sexual behavior, and none of the racial/ethnic groups maintained their preference at greater or lesser levels than any other group. There were no significant differences in all the behavioral risks between men who maintained their preferences and those who did not. Yet, prevalence of HIV infection was two times higher among men who were strictly “bottom.” Linguistically and/or culturally appropriate HIV prevention information/interventions at an appropriate educational level should be provided to those from the developing world and those of lower socioeconomic status, who may lack the knowledge of differential risks associated with anal sex activities.     

不育症患者精液支原体检测及耐药性分析

目的 探讨男性不育症患者精液支原体感染及药敏情况.方法 应用培养法对男性不育症患者精液进行支原体检测,同时测定其对抗菌药物的耐药性.结果 267份标本中支原体感染率为46.07%,其中单纯解脲脲支原体(Uu)感染率为41.57%(11例)、单纯人支原体(Mh)感染率为1.50%(4例),Uu+Mh混合感染率为3.00%(8例);9种抗菌药物药敏试验结果显示,支原体对米诺环素、多西环素和交沙霉素的敏感率最高,阿奇霉素和罗红霉素次之;耐药率最高的是氧氟沙星和克林霉素.结论 男性不育症患者精液支原体的感染已相当普遍,临床应引起高度重视并加强支原体培养和药敏试验,根据药敏试验结果选择用药,从而最大限度地控制耐药菌株的产生.     

Individual,Psychosocial, and Social Correlates of Unprotected Anal Intercourse in a New Generation of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in New York City

Objectives. We examined associations of individual, psychosocial, and social factors with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among young men who have sex with men in New York City.Methods. Using baseline assessment data from 592 young men who have sex with men participating in an ongoing prospective cohort study, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between covariates and likelihood of recently engaging in UAI with same-sex partners.Results. Nineteen percent reported recent UAI with a same-sex partner. In multivariable models, being in a current relationship with another man (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.87), an arrest history (AOR = 2.01), greater residential instability (AOR = 1.75), and unstable housing or homelessness (AOR = 3.10) was associated with recent UAI. Although high levels of gay community affinity and low internalized homophobia were associated with engaging in UAI in bivariate analyses, these associations did not persist in multivariable analyses.Conclusions. Associations of psychosocial and socially produced conditions with UAI among a new generation of young men who have sex with men warrant that HIV prevention programs and policies address structural factors that predispose sexual risk behaviors.Young men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be at increased risk for the acquisition and transmission of HIV. Nationally, among those aged 13 to 24 years, the estimate of new HIV infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact increased from 61% in 2006 to 71% in 2009.1 In New York City between 2001 and 2008, 73% of HIV diagnoses among male adolescents and young adults were among young MSM.2 These national and local surveillance data confirm that a third generation of MSM, a generation that did not witness the heightened morbidity and mortality of the early AIDS epidemic, continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS. In addition to these epidemiological trends, adolescents and young adults are at heightened risk for HIV/AIDS because the periods of adolescence and young adulthood are marked by a higher prevalence of HIV-related risk behaviors such as unprotected sex and illicit drug use.3,4 Moreover, these periods are often characterized by significant transitions and challenges for young MSM, specifically around the formation of sexual identity as well as coming out to family members and peers that may all coalesce to increase vulnerability for HIV.To date, research related to HIV risk among MSM, and more specifically young MSM, has generally focused on understanding the influence of individual-level characteristics on risk-taking behaviors. For example, it is well established that factors such as educational attainment,5 race/ethnicity,6–8 sexual orientation,9 age at sexual onset,8,10 and relationship status11,12 are associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors, such as engaging in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). In addition, previous research indicates that those with a history of arrest and incarceration are more likely to engage in greater sexual risk behaviors than are those without such a history.13,14More recently, research efforts have moved beyond examining individual-level characteristics by considering both protective and harmful psychosocial states that may either buffer against or exacerbate vulnerabilities that function as drivers of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors.15,16 For instance, experiences of homophobia can often lead to discomfort with one’s sexual identity and may act as a significant psychosocial stressor linked to increased sexual risk taking.17,18 Conversely, young MSM with positive attitudes about homosexuality are less likely to have multiple sex partners and may be less likely to engage in UAI.19 Finally, gay community affiliation may function to either protect against or exacerbate the risk for HIV transmission and acquisition.Exposure and access to gay neighborhoods with norms promoting safer sexual behaviors may lead to safer sexual practices, such as consistent condom use, among MSM20 as well as greater awareness about HIV education and services available to MSM.21 However, higher gay community affinity among a younger generation of MSM may be associated with greater sexual risk taking in the absence of norms promoting safer sexual behaviors.22Increasingly, empirical research has examined the impact of social factors for their association with sexual risk taking among MSM overall.23 For example, several studies have linked poverty and economic disadvantage as socially produced risk factors associated with sexual risk taking among MSM.24,25 These associations may be more pronounced among individuals with higher levels of residential or housing instability or homelessness because they may engage in sex work to secure vital material resources and therefore be at an increased risk for HIV transmission and acquistion.24,26–28 Because of the need to understand the effect of individual, psychosocial, and social factors on HIV risk among young MSM, we sought to characterize how these factors influence sexual risk behaviors, specifically UAI, in a sample of young MSM. These findings have the potential to inform novel HIV/AIDS-related prevention and intervention efforts for this new generation of men.