Dating preferences among self-identified gay men of Asian descent in the United States

Little is known about the dating preferences of Asian American gay men. To conceptualize the dating preferences among these men, the impact domains model (IDM) was used to investigate if nativity and/or acculturation might explain dating preferences. Previous studies have pointed out the problematic nature of a racist cultural stereotype that Asian American gay men prefer white partners (Choi, Yep, & Kumekawa, 1998; Han, 2008). The current findings do not support that Asian American gay men prefer white partners. In our sample, 17.1% preferred dating white men and over 20% preferred Asian men. Over 60% had no clear racial/ethnic dating preference. Multivariate analyses indicated that those reporting higher ethnic acculturation (p <.001) and were U.S.-born (p <.01) were more likely to prefer dating Asian men. In contrast, those younger (p <.001) and living on the East Coast (p <.01) were more likely to prefer dating white men. Limitations of the study include a self-report cross-sectional design with purposive recruitment to study HIV/STIs and sexual health rather than dating preferences. Additionally, the data set included only a coastal classification (East vs. West Coast) and an acculturation scale which included cultural identity, language, and competence. The complex effect of nativity and acculturation on dating preference warrants further investigation. The IDM may be useful to guide future studies of partner preference among Asian MSM. Researchers in future studies should pay attention to identifying the key behavioral, social, and affective beliefs that underlie partner preference and examine actual dating practices

Analysis of Coital and Non-Coital Sexual Behavior in Adolescents: Spain, 2016

This report has been carried out with the support of a pre-doctoral contract of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU13/03841), awarded to the first author.The adolescent population is considered a group that is at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the sexual behavior (both coital and non-coital) of Spanish adolescents and the differences on the basis of gender. It was a representative sample of 2703 Spanish adolescents of between 14 and 20 years old. In total, 49.9% of participants were males (M = 15.95; SD = 1.30) and 51.1% females (M = 15.83; SD = 1.28). The results show that 27% of adolescents maintain penetrative sexual relations, 45.7% engage in non-penetrative sex, and 27.3% have never had sexual experience. On the basis of gender, males initiate non-penetrative sexual behavior, vaginal sex, and anal sex earlier than females, have a greater number of non-penetrative sexual encounters under the influence of alcohol and have a greater number of anal and vaginal sex partners. Females, on the other hand, tend to have partners who are older than them. No gender differences were found in the case of condom use in the first and last sexual contact with anal and vaginal penetration, or in the consistent use of condoms in anal and vaginal sexual encounters, of which it is particularly worth noting that 47.2% of adolescents use condoms inconsistently in vaginal sexual relations, and 81.9% in anal relations. It can be concluded that it is necessary to intervene and educate adolescents on the prevention of STIs/HIV at an early age, taking into account a gender perspective.Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU13/03841