Internet Use among Gay and Bisexual Men with Compulsive Sexual Behavior

This analysis sought to explore the role the Internet played in the lives and behaviors of 183 gay and bisexual men who identified their sex lives as “spinning out of control.” Participants for this study had enrolled in a multi-method community study of compulsive sexual behavior whose purpose was to investigate the nature, course and antecedents of sexual compulsivity among gay and bisexual men. Most men in the sample reported using the Internet and, the greater their reported use, the more likely they were to identify their use as a problem. Moreover, men who identified their Internet use as a problem were more likely to have sought help through 12-step programs. Data from the current study suggest the Internet may play a role in sexual risk-taking behaviors of sexually compulsive gay and bisexual men. It seems this connection to risk-taking behaviors may be different for HIV-positive and HIV-negative men. Understanding the role of the Internet in the sexual lives of sexually compulsive gay and bisexual men and the relationships between HIV-risk taking and Internet use in this population provides a foundation to better design/implement effective HIV education and prevention. Although the Internet is a potential problem or trigger for sexually compulsive men, it also provides researchers, public health professionals, and clinicians with a powerful tool for HIV educational outreach, interventions, and prevention.