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Sexually Explicit Media on the Internet: A Content Analysis of Sexual Behaviors, Risk, and Media Characteristics in Gay Male Adult Videos

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Abstract

Recent research suggests that viewing sexually explicit media (SEM), i.e., adult videos, may influence sexual risk taking among men who have sex with men. Despite this evidence, very little is known about the content of gay male SEM on the Internet, including the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and their relation to video- and performer-characteristics, viewing frequency, and favorability. The current study content analyzed 302 sexually explicit videos featuring male same-sex performers that were posted to five highly trafficked adult-oriented websites. Findings revealed that gay male SEM on the Internet features a variety of conventional and nonconventional sexual behaviors. There was a substantial prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) (34 %) and was virtually the same as the prevalence of anal sex with a condom (36 %). The presence of UAI was not associated with video length, amateur production, number of video views, favorability, or website source. However, the presence of other potentially high-risk behaviors (e.g., ejaculation in the mouth, and ejaculation on/in/rubbed into the anus) was associated with longer videos, more views, and group sex videos (three or more performers). The findings of high levels of sexual risk behavior and the fact that there was virtually no difference in the prevalence of anal sex with and without a condom in gay male SEM have important implications for HIV prevention efforts, future research on the role of SEM on sexual risk taking, and public health policy.

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Notes

  1. Past research has raised concerns regarding the level of aggression, violence, and domination that exists within the context of heterosexual SEM (Bridges et al., 2010; Gossett & Byrne, 2002; Palys, 1986). We found that a substantial number of videos contained episodes of spanking and BDSM. However, these findings must be qualified. Much of the spanking present in the videos consisted of a single slap on the buttocks. Some BDSM behaviors were exhibited by solo performers. Videos containing BDSM among two or more performers in some cases did feature violence and aggression. However, our findings overall did not appear to demonstrate a high prevalence of violence or rape within gay male SEM on the Internet.

  2. To calculate prevalence consistent with our study, percentages were based on the total number of homosexual scenes rather than the number of homosexual scenes featuring anal sex.

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Acknowledgments

Martin Downing’s writing and editorial efforts were supported by a postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research sponsored by Public Health Solutions and National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32-DA007233). Points of view, opinions, and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Government, Public Health Solutions or National Development and Research Institutes. An earlier version of this report was presented at the meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Tampa, FL, November 2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research Program, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA

    Martin J. Downing Jr.

  2. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, 9th Fl., New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Eric W. Schrimshaw, Nadav Antebi & Karolynn Siegel

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  1. Martin J. Downing Jr.
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Correspondence to Eric W. Schrimshaw.

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Downing, M.J., Schrimshaw, E.W., Antebi, N. et al. Sexually Explicit Media on the Internet: A Content Analysis of Sexual Behaviors, Risk, and Media Characteristics in Gay Male Adult Videos. Arch Sex Behav 43, 811–821 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0121-1

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