Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Feb 22, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 23, 2024 - Apr 19, 2024
Date Accepted: Jun 20, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for the Development and Validation of a Novel Paradigm
ABSTRACT
Background:
Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem for sexual minorities, including men who have sex with men (MSM). The limited research suggests SV is associated with a host of syndemic conditions. These factors tend to cluster and interact to worsen each of the other conditions. Unfortunately, while much work has been conducted to examine these factors in heterosexual women, there is lack of research examining MSM, especially their ability to perceive the potential for SV risk. Further, MSM are active users of dating and sexual network (DSN) apps and this technology has demonstrated usefulness for creating safe spaces for MSM to meet and engage partners. However, there is mounting data demonstrating that DSN app use is associated with increased risk for SV, especially given the higher likelihood of using alcohol and other drugs before sex. On the other hand, some researchers have demonstrated that DSN technology can be harnessed as a prevention tool for HIV; unfortunately, no such work has progressed with regard to SV.
Objective:
The current project uses qualitative and quantitative methods to tailor an existing laboratory analogue of SV risk perception for MSM. This paradigm will be subjected to a rigorous validation study to confirm its usefulness in predicting risk for SV, with the potential for use in future prevention endeavors.
Methods:
For Aim 1, a team of computer scientists created the initial DSN app (“G-Date”) and incorporated ongoing feedback about the usability, feasibility, and realism of this tool from a representative sample of MSM. We used focus groups and interviews to assist the development of the G-Date app, including identifying relevant stimuli for the app, development of the cover story, and establishment of the appropriateness of study language. For Aim 2, we are conducting an experimental study with online and face-to-face participants to determine the content, concurrent, and predictive validity of the G-Date app. In short, we will evaluate whether certain correlates of SV (e.g., history of SV, alcohol and drug use) affect the ability of MSM to detect risk for SV within G-Date and how paradigm engagement connects to behavior in actual DSN app use contexts.
Results:
This study received funding from NIAAA on September 10, 2020 and ethical approval was received on October 19, 2020 and we began qualitative data collection for Aim 1 in February 2021. After an iterative approach to app development, we began data collection for the Aim 2 validation study in December 2022. Initial results from the validation study are expected to be available after June 2025.
Conclusions:
It is hoped that G-Date will enhance our understanding of factors associated with SV risk, and serve as a useful step in creating prevention programs for this susceptible population.
Citation
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Copyright
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