The role of psycho-social characteristics & their interaction with social media usage on risky sexual behaviour among MSM (men who have sex with men) in Pakistan

Abstract

Risky sexual behavior (RSB) is related with prevalence of STI’s in world. Risky sex is more prevalent among MSM and certain psycho-social characteristics are related with RSB. A model was proposed that psycho-social characteristics (low self-esteem, high loneliness and SEM) will predict RSB and their interaction with SM dating applications will predict RSB above and beyond than their individual predictions. A sample of 311 MSM from Facebook dating pages of Pakistan and Grindr was conveniently taken. Results revealed that loneliness and SEM usage are discreet predictors of RSB, and their interaction with SM usage is nonsignificant. This relationship was explained with self-selection hypothesis. There is a doseresponse relationship between SM usage and RSB which was discussed with accentuation hypothesis. Role of education, SM, SEM usage and homophobia was discussed for nonsignificant relationship of self-esteem with RSB. Limitations and recommendations for future researches and implications are also provided.