FATALISM, CURRENT LIFE SATISFACTION, AND RISK FOR HIV-INFECTION AMONGGAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

This study surveyed 430 men at an urban gay pride celebration to asses s fatalism, current life satisfaction, and perceived expected years of life among men who have sex with men. Analyses showed that men who en gaged in unprotected anal intercourse outside of exclusive relationshi ps reported a greater fatalistic outlook, were more dissatisfied with life, and perceived a shorter life for themselves than men who practic ed only safer sex and men who were in exclusive relationships. Gay men in exclusive relationships scored higher than nonexclusively partnere d gay men on the measure of current life satisfaction. These results s uggest that efforts to prevent HIV infection among gay men should incl ude building personal self-worth, support of long-term relationships, and future goal orientations.