Junye Ma, Jose Bauermeister, Patrick S Sullivan, Lisa Hightow-Weidman, Seul Ki Choi, Amanda D Castel, Jodie L Guest, Jonathan Helm, Erik D Storholm, Jesicca Montoya, David J Moore, Keith J Horvath
Online relationship seeking is common among adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM), yet research has primarily compared sexual health between ASMM who seek partners online with those who do not, overlooking heterogeneity in dating motivations. We examined associations between motivations for online relationship seeking (dates only vs. both dates/sex) and HIV-related behaviors and assessed racial/ethnic differences in these associations. Data from three timepoints were drawn from a 12-month HIV prevention intervention with ASMM in the U.S. Logistic regressions examined associations between motivations for online relationship seeking and HIV/STI testing, condomless sex without using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and PrEP interest. The sample included 266 ASMM aged 13-18 years (Md = 17; 59% ASMM of color). Overall, 38% reported seeking dates only online, whereas 62% sought both dates/sex; the former group was significantly younger, p = .04. ASMM who sought both dates/sex online were more likely to test for HIV (p = .04) and STI (p = .01) than those seeking dates only. Hispanic ASMM were more likely than non-Hispanic peers to engage in condomless sex when not using PrEP (p = .001) and were less likely to test for HIV (p = .02). These findings highlight the need for tailored relationship and sexual health programs, particularly for Hispanic and younger ASMM who more often seek dates only.