Resisting to temptation: The effects of exposure to sexually explicit material on men who have sex with men Effects of exposure to SEM depicting safe sex or bareback sex on the intention to protect oneself from HIV infection among men who have sex with men

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increase in both the rate of new HIV infections and HIV-related sexual risk behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM). As research has suggested an association between MSMs’ HIV risk behavior and exposure to sexually explicit material (SEM), exposure to SEM may be of concern. This study assessed the effects of exposure to SEM depicting safe sex or bareback sex on the intention to protect oneself from HIV infection among MSM. Also, we examined whether the effects of exposure to SEM depended on the extent to which MSM considered protecting their sexual health important and had been successful at self-regulating their sexual health behaviours. HIV-negative MSM between 18 and 63 years (n = 482), completed the online study, in which they were randomly assigned to one of three SEM conditions (safe sex, bareback sex, no SEM control). Analysis of variance showed no effect of exposure to SEM on men’s intention to protect themselves against HIV infection. Also, no interaction effects were found between exposure to SEM and sexual health goal importance and/or self-regulatory success. Findings contradict previous theorizing and research and suggest that being exposed to SEM depicting safe sex or bareback sex does not increase sexual risk-taking among MSM. However, caution should be exercised before concluding that exposure to SEM has no adverse effects on MSMs’ HIV risk behaviour. Specifically, we suggest that, in this study, exposure to SEM may not have sexually aroused men strongly enough to affect their intention to protect themselves from HIV infection. Future research should further investigate whether exposure to SEM could have an impact on MSMs’ HIV risk behavior under high levels of sexual arousal or in other specific conditions, such as under the influence of alcohol or drugs.