Psychosocial characteristics pattern correlated with HIV-related risky sexual behavior among HIV-negative men who have sex with men: a latent profile analysis

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become a high risk population of HIV infection due to their risky sexual behaviors. The latent pattern of psychosocial characteristics plays an important effect in HIV-related risky behaviors among HIV-negative MSM. METHOD: Participants were recruited from Wuhan, Nanchang, and Changsha city from September 2017 to January 2018. Social support was assessed by the multidimensional scale of social support, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale-10 items for reliance, the assessment of Stigma towards Homosexuality for sexual minority stigma, the Likert subscale of nondisclosure for identity concealment, the ACE questionnaire-Kaiser-CDC for adverse childhood experience, the Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for depression. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and multivariate regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Three psychosocial characteristic patterns were revealed by the LPA. “Social support and resilience group” (SR group), “Identity concealment group” (IC group) and “Adverse childhood experience” (ACE group) were identified, respectively. In comparison with “SR group”, “IC group” have a higher likelihood of one-night male partners (AOR = 2.74, 95%CI = [1.54, 4.90]), both fixed and one-night male partners (AOR = 2.01, 95%CI = [1.34, 3.01]) and HIV-unsure male partner (AOR = 2.12, 95%CI = [1.44, 3.13]). Similarly, “ACE group” were more likely having inconsistent condom use (AOR = 2.58, 95%CI = [1.41, 4.73]), and having sex with HIV-positive male partner (AOR = 4.90, 95%CI = [1.95, 12.30]) with comparison of “SR group”. In addition, we further revealed that “ACE group” had a higher ratio (90.0%) of inconsistent condom use among MSM whose male partners were HIV-positive. CONCLUSIONS: Six important psychosocial factors were divided into three latent pattern classes. Compared with “SR group”, “IC group” and “ACE group” were more likely to engage in HIV-related risky sexual behaviors. Further research may pay more attention to “IC group” and “ACE group” for targeted intervention.