GROUPING GAY MEN ON DIMENSIONS REFLECTING SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR PREFERENCES- IMPLICATIONS FOR HIV AIDS-PREVENTION

Many gay men engage in unsafe sex, despite awareness of AIDS risk. Alt hough prevention efforts recommend virtual elimination of risk, some m en instead engage in ''calculated'' risk-taking. Using cluster analysi s, 90 men were grouped according to sexual sensation seeking, sexual c ontrol, and pleasure ratings of three sexual behaviors. Three clusters were compared on frequency and pleasure associated with sexual behavi ors, substance use, and reasons for both resisting and lapsing into un safe behavior. The cluster characterized by high anal pleasure and hig h sensation-seeking reported more safer sex and the highest AIDS knowl edge-but also the greatest number of partners and unprotected anal act s. The subgroup characterized by less pleasure from sexual behaviors a nd lower sensation-seeking had lower AIDS knowledge and was more likel y to yield to partner pressure. Results suggest that AIDS prevention f or gay men should be tailored to behavior preferences, sensation-seeki ng level, and risk tolerance.