Comparison of the Influence of Internalized Homonegativity on Sexual Risk Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Spain and Turkey.

Sönmez, İbrahim; Berg, Rigmor C; Yazıcılaroğlu, Sami Sarper; Thurlby, Natalie; Schmidt, Axel J; (2022) Comparison of the Influence of Internalized Homonegativity on Sexual Risk Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Spain and Turkey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH, 34 (4). pp. 644-657. ISSN 1931-7611 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2022.2094043

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to understand how the association between internalized homonegativity (IH) and sexual risk behavior differed in Spain (N = 3,336) and Turkey (N = 550). Methods: We used multigroup structural equation modeling. Results: HIV and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge mediated the relationship between IH and sexual risk behavior among MSM in Spain, but not among men in Turkey. Higher HIV/PrEP knowledge was associated with higher sexual risk behavior among MSM in Spain, while among MSM in Turkey the association was in the opposite direction. Conclusions: The meaning of safe-sex may differ across contexts, and this should be taken into consideration when tailoring HIV prevention programs.