The role of substance misuse and sexual victimization history on sexual violence risk perception in men who have sex with men: A novel paradigm.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual victimization (SV) is common among men who have sex with men (MSM) as is dating and sexual networking (DSN) app use. We developed a novel laboratory paradigm ("G-Date") of sexual violence risk perception in DSN app environments and explored its validity and the role of substance misuse and SV history on sexual violence risk perception. METHOD: Using convenience sampling, we recruited 145 MSM to use G-Date to interact with two bogus speed dates whose responses were scripted to be risky or non-risky. Risky dates displayed several cues indicating risk for sexual violence perpetration. Dependent variables included pre/post changes in ratings of their dating partner's appeal; ratings of the presence of each of the embedded risk cues; and the duration of the speed dates. RESULTS: Compared to non-risky dates, participants terminated risky dates significantly sooner, rated them higher in each of the risk cues, and their pre- to post-date ratings of partner appeal declined significantly more. Participants' drug misuse was associated with reduced interest in the non-risky date, but not the risky date and predicted shorter speed date length and lower partner appeal ratings across date type. Substance-facilitated SV history interacted with alcohol misuse and date type to predict sexual violence risk perception. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide evidence for the paradigm's validity and suggest that drug misuse and substance-facilitated SV history shape MSM's risk perception in DSN apps. Efforts to prevent SV among MSM should consider individual characteristics, including substance misuse, in risk perception.

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of "G-Date".

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem for sexual minorities, including men who have sex with men (MSM). The limited research suggests SV is associated with a host of syndemic conditions. These factors tend to cluster and interact to worsen one another. Unfortunately, while much work has been conducted to examine these factors in heterosexual women, there is a lack of research examining MSM, especially their SV risk perception. Further, MSM are active users of dating and sexual networking (DSN) mobile apps, and this technology has demonstrated usefulness for creating safe spaces for MSM to meet and engage partners. However, mounting data demonstrate that DSN app use is associated with an increased risk for SV, especially given the higher likelihood of using alcohol and other drugs before sex. By contrast, some researchers have demonstrated that DSN technology can be harnessed as a prevention tool for HIV; unfortunately, no such work has progressed regarding SV. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to (1) use qualitative and quantitative methods to tailor an existing laboratory paradigm of SV risk perception in women for MSM using a DSN mobile app framework and (2) subject this novel paradigm to a rigorous validation study to confirm its usefulness in predicting SV, with the potential for use in future prevention endeavors. METHODS: To tailor the paradigm for MSM, a team of computer scientists created an initial DSN app (G-Date) and incorporated ongoing feedback about the usability, feasibility, and realism of this tool from a representative sample of MSM. We used focus groups and interviews to assist in the development of G-Date, including by identifying relevant stimuli, developing the cover story, and establishing the appropriate study language. To confirm the paradigm's usefulness, we are conducting an experimental study with web-based and face-to-face participants to determine the content, concurrent, and predictive validities of G-Date. We will evaluate whether certain correlates of SV informed by syndemics and minority stress theories (eg, history of SV and alcohol and drug use) affect the ability of MSM to detect SV risk within G-Date and how paradigm engagement influences behavior in actual DSN app use contexts. RESULTS: This study received funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism on September 10, 2020, and ethics approval on October 19, 2020, and we began app development for aim 1 immediately thereafter. We began data collection for the aim 2 validation study in December 2022. Initial results from the validation study are expected to be available after December 2025. CONCLUSIONS: We hope that G-Date will enhance our understanding of factors associated with SV risk and serve as a useful step in creating prevention programs for this susceptible population.

The Influence of Health-Related Behavior Profiles on College Students' Perceptions of COVID-19 Safety Measures.

College students often engage in multiple health-related behaviors simultaneously which can lead to negative outcomes and further risky behaviors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students reported decreased condom use, increased solitary cannabis use, and increased alcohol consumption. This current study aimed to (1) identify profiles of health-related behaviors (i.e., alcohol consumption, cannabis use, and sexual behaviors), and (2) determine if these profiles would differ in engagement and perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 preventative measures. Participants were 273 college students from a large Northeastern U.S. public university who completed surveys about health-related behaviors during the 2021 academic year. We used a latent profile analysis to identify distinct subgroups of college students based on their engagement in health-related behaviors. Based on fit indices a three-profile solution showed the best fit: low (N = 196), moderate (N = 54), and high (N = 23). Two one-way ANOVAs examined whether profile membership predicted engagement and perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 safety measures. Participants in the low health-related behaviors profile engaged in preventative measures more than students in the other two profiles. However, profile membership did not predict perceived effectiveness of preventative behaviors. Taken together, our results indicate that college students reporting lower levels of health-related behaviors engage in more preventative measures during a pandemic. Understanding distinct health-related behaviors profiles among college students, and their links with COVID-preventative health-related behaviors, can inform prevention strategies.

The Criminalized Victim: Evaluating Public Perceptions of Sex Trafficked Individuals.

Individuals who have been sex trafficked are continuously being targeted for prostitution and other related offenses instead of being recognized for their victimization. This may occur due to a fundamental lack of understanding of the sex-trafficked experience, allowing for misperceptions to form unhindered. Individuals with these misperceptions then go on to form laws and services intended to aid victims, but instead leave them vulnerable and criminalized. This study assessed whether an educational intervention on the experience of a sex-trafficked individual could influence public perceptions of free will doubt and criminal culpability. This study used a non-equivalent groups posttest-only design to administer an article on the sex trafficking experience, including the trauma and coercion a victim faces, or a neutral article on optical illusions, to then assess sex trafficking knowledge, free will doubt, and culpability beliefs. Participants (N = 445) were recruited from the general public through Amazon Mechanical Turk and were reimbursed for their involvement. Results suggest that even when individuals display a basic understanding of the sex trafficking experience, they do not fully comprehend the complexities of how free will can be compromised by trauma and coercion, ultimately affecting perceptions of personal culpability for criminal activity.