This study examines risks and attributes that are coherent with HIV within sub-set of gay men who are in primary relationships. The authors of this study stated that over the past two decades the infection of HIV within gay men in the USA has declined but rates of infection still remain high which may increase within this group. Lert (2000) stated that treatments like Antiretroviral have made HIV seem like a manageable illness. “There is evidence that those changes in the treatment of HIV infection have altered the perception of sexual risk among gay men and other groups.” (Vanable et al, 2000)
Gagon & Godin (2000) stated that gay men’s concern for the use of condom’s had lessened as their perception towards HIV infection being treated. Relationships within gay men described by themselves were non-exclusive. (Hickson et al, 1992) This raised the rate of infections being brought into the relationships. As stated in the study there are many ways how relationships can affect gay men from HIV risk status. “Given the emerging importance of treatment-based shifts in gay men’s attitudes toward HIV, we decided to examine the role of HIV attitudes on sexual risk within the context of gay relationships.”
(Sexual sensation seeking, reduced concern about HIV and sexual risk behaviour among gay men in primary relationships – I.Crawford, P.L.Hammack, D.J.Mckiran, D.Ostraw, B.D.Zamboni, B.Robinson & B.Hope) Variable stated that gay men will engage in unprotected sex although they will be reporting emergency risk attitudes towards reduced concern over HIV, this statement was also stated as a hypothesis in this study by the researchers.
Another hypothesis recalled in this study is that relationship status would vary the attitude – risk relation, this is vital for the design within prevention. To understand attitudes and sexual risk within relationships a well studied variable had to be explored this was sexual sensation seeking. “This refers to the tendency to prefer ‘exciting, optimal and novel stimulation or arousal'” (Kalichman et al 1994) Alcohol, drug use and the rate of unprotected sex among gay men has a strong link with sexual sensation seeking. (D.Franceisco et al, 1996; Kalichman et al, 1994, 1998b; Lye Chng & Geliga – Vargus, 2000)
The researchers also hypothesized that primary and non-primary partners sexual risk behaviours are associated with both sexual sensation seeking reduced concern about HIV. Furthermore the last hypothesis made in this study was that the variables would have different effect due to the participants being members of sexually exclusive or non-exclusive relationships. “It is our belief that these groups represent distinct populations of gay men who require divergent preventative interventions.”
The theory of this study was about the reduction of concern within HIV infections, which increased sexual behaviour within gay men who weren’t in relationships that weren’t sexually exclusive. “Gay men who establish rules within their relationships that prohibit sexual activity outside of the primary relationships presumably are less motivated to release themselves from sexual restraint.”