Michelle Marie Johns

Butch tops and femme bottoms? Sexual positioning, sexual decision making, and gender roles among young gay men.

Gender and power are theoretical constructs linked to discussions of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among heterosexual couples. Despite the fact that HIV rates are rising among young men who have sex with men in the United States, work examining the role of gender in sexual decision making of young men who have sex with men remains in its infancy. Through qualitative interviews with 34 young gay men (YGM), the authors seek to contribute to the literature in this area by focusing on the ways that YGM understand and enact sexual positions during anal sex. The authors’ results highlight the diversity of YGM’s sexual preferences, as well as the high degree of sexual fluidity. Ideas of gender appear to inform part of this process; however, YGM critiqued conventional gender norms and emphasized the centrality of relationships (i.e., casual vs. romantic) in their sexual decision making. The authors discuss the importance of considering gender and interpersonal factors when designing HIV/AIDS prevention messages for YGM.

Butch Tops and Femme Bottoms? Constructions of Masculinity by Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Seeking Partners Online

Gender and power are theoretical constructs linked to discussions of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among heterosexual couples. Despite the fact that HIV rates are rising among young men who have sex with men in the United States, work examining the role of gender in sexual decision making of young men who have sex with men remains in its infancy. Through qualitative interviews with 34 young gay men (YGM), the authors seek to contribute to the literature in this area by focusing on the ways that YGM understand and enact sexual positions during anal sex. The authors’ results highlight the diversity of YGM’s sexual preferences, as well as the high degree of sexual fluidity. Ideas of gender appear to inform part of this process; however, YGM critiqued conventional gender norms and emphasized the centrality of relationships (i.e., casual vs. romantic) in their sexual decision making. The authors discuss the importance of considering gender and interpersonal factors when designing HIV/AIDS prevention messages for YGM.

Achieving Safety: Safer Sex, Communication, and Desire Among Young Gay Men

Conceptualizations of safer sex practices among young gay men (YGM) are frequently structured around communication between partners and the subsequent utilization or absence of condoms in a sexual encounter. Drawing on a sample of 34 in-depth interviews with YGM, ages 18 to 24, the authors explore the ways in which conceptualizations and definitions of safer sex are discussed and enacted. Placing attention on their safer sex practices, the authors analyze the conversations that do and do not occur among YGM and their partners, including the strategies (e.g., negotiated safety, condom communication and negotiation) that are commonly perceived as most useful by YGM. The authors provide recommendations regarding how to craft safer sex messages for YGM by considering their competing demands.

Individual and Neighborhood Correlates of HIV Testing among African American Youth Transitioning from Adolescence into Young Adulthood

Disparities in HIV testing rates exist among socially disadvantaged communities. Using a longitudinal sample of urban African American youth followed from adolescence into young adulthood (n = 396; 51% female), we examined whether HIV testing was associated with individual (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status [SES], education, and history of sexually transmitted infections [STIs]) and area (i.e., neighborhood disadvantage and HIV prevalence) characteristics. In our multilevel regressions, we found females were more likely to have tested for HIV, with the magnitude of this association increasing if they lived in areas of greater disadvantage yet decreasing in higher HIV prevalence areas. Those without a high school degree, with a lower SES, or with a history of STIs in adolescence were less likely to test if they lived in greater disadvantage and HIV prevalence areas. We discuss the implications of these findings from an ecological perspective and propose recommendations for increasing testing among African American youth.

“A Safe Way to Explore” Reframing Risk on the Internet Amidst Young Gay Men’s Search for Identity

Internet use provides a vital opportunity for sexual-minority youth to learn about sexual desires and pursue partnerships otherwise publically stigmatized. Researchers, however, have portrayed the Internet as an inherently risky venue for HIV or sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission among young gay men (YGM). We therefore investigated how YGM use the Internet during adolescence and emerging adulthood. In the course of 34 in-depth, semistructured interviews with a sample of self-identified YGM, 18 to 24 years of age, we inquired about initial experiences of online dating. We found that YGM benefit online through exploration of their sexual identities, while simultaneously encountering and negotiating sources of risk. In examining YGM’s perceptions of risk, we hope to reach a greater understanding of the opportunities for HIV prevention and health promotion among YGM.

Exploring Young Adult Sexual Minority Women's Perspectives on LGBTQ Smoking.

Smoking rates are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals than among heterosexuals. These disparities are exacerbated during the transition from youth to young adulthood. The current study uses in-depth qualitative interviews to understand perceptions of LGBTQ smoking among LBQ-identified women (N = 30, ages 18 to 24). Major themes identified include the belief that smoking was a way of overcoming stressors faced by heterosexual and LGBTQ young adults alike, a mechanism to relieve sexuality-related stressors, and an ingrained part of LGBTQ culture. Results may suggest unique stressors influence LGBTQ smokers. Implications for smoking cessation interventions for LGBTQ youth are discussed.

Measuring Love: Sexual Minority Male Youths’ Ideal Romantic Characteristics

Research examining how sexual minorities characterize love within same-sex relationships is scarce. In this study, the authors examined the validity of Sternbergs triangular theory of love in a sample of sexual minority male youth (N = 447). To test the adequacy of the theory for our population, the authors examined the psychometric properties of the Triadic Love Scale (TLS) and tested whether the three underlying constructs of the theory (intimacy, passion, and commitment) emerged when participants were asked to consider their ideal relationship with another man. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the authors found support for the three-factor solution to characterize sexual minority male youths’ ideal romantic relationship, after minimizing item cross-loadings and adapting the content of the Passion subscale. The authors discuss the implications of their findings regarding the measurement of the TLS among sexual minority male youth and propose ways to enhance its measurement in future research.

Psychosocial Obstacles to Smoking Cessation Attempts Among Young Adult Sexual Minority Women Who Smoke

ABSTRACT Sexual minority women (SMW; i.e., women who identify their sexuality as lesbian, bisexual, or something other than heterosexual) report greater smoking behaviors than their heterosexual counterparts across all ages. We conducted a multivariable regression to examine the correlates of prior smoking cessation attempts and smoking cessation intentions in a sample of young SMW who smoke (N = 338; aged 18–24 years). Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., race/ethnicity, sexual identity, age, urbanity), general (i.e., perceived stress), and sexuality-specific (i.e., internalized homophobia) stressors, as well as smoking attitudes and subjective norms. Bisexual women (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.11, 3.31) were more likely than lesbian counterparts to report a prior smoking cessation attempt. Prior cessation attempts were associated with less internalized homophobia (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.69) and positive attitudes toward smoking (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.70). Smoking cessation intentions in the next month were negatively associated with being a daily smoker (β = –0.14) and attitudes toward smoking (β = –0.19). Based on these findings, we underscore the need to address the risk correlates associated with SMWs quit attempts and include these in cessation interventions.

Resilient minds and bodies: Size discrimination, body image, and mental health among sexual minority women.

Sexual minority women (SMW) have higher BMIs than heterosexual women. This pattern places SMW at risk for size discrimination, but few have examined how size discrimination relates to the mental health of SMW. Using the Michigan Smoking and Sexuality Study (n = 232), we evaluate the relationship between size discrimination and mental health among SMW. Then, guided by resilience theory, we test whether body image is a health promotive factor by assessing the extent to which it mitigates size discrimination’s relationship to negative mental health outcomes. We find evidence that body image may be an important compensatory asset available to SMW encountering size discrimination.