Associations Between Perceived Weight Status, Body Dissatisfaction, and Self-Objectification on Sexual Sensation Seeking and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Grindr

William C. Goedel, Paul Krebs, Richard E. Greene, Dustin T. Duncan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To date, various dimensions of body image and their associations with condom use have not been studied among men who have sex with men (MSM) who use geosocial-networking smartphone applications (“apps”) to meet new sexual partners. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate associations between weight perception, body dissatisfaction, and self-objectification with sexual behaviors among a sample of MSM (N = 92) recruited from Grindr, an app popular among MSM, to complete an online survey. Obese participants scored significantly higher on measures of body dissatisfaction and lower on measures of sexual sensation seeking. Decreased propensities to seek sexual sensations were associated with fewer sexual partners. By assessing associations between dimensions of body dissatisfaction and sexual risk behaviors, this study adds support to a theory of syndemics among MSM, which suggests that synergistically related biological, psychological, social, and behavioral factors disproportionately affect health and health-related behaviors in this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)142-150
Number of pages9
JournalBehavioral Medicine
Volume43
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 3 2017

Keywords

  • body dissatisfaction
  • condom use
  • men who have sex with men
  • self-objectification
  • weight perception

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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