Situation of sensation seeking among young men who have sex with men

Objective To examine the situation of sensation seeking among young men(25 years old and below)who have sex with men(YMSM)in Wuhan city.Methods From May to November 2013,YMSM were recruited through internet promotion,extending activity and human immunodeficiency virus voluntary counseling and testing(HIV VCT)in Wuhan and investigated via an anonymous questionnaire survey.Data were analyzed with SPSS software and t test and analysis of variation(ANOVA)were used.Results Among the 398 YMSM,the sensation seeking score was 15.46±5.70 and the average scores for experience seeking(ES),boredom susceptibility(BS),thrill and adventure seeking(TAS),and disinhibition(DI)were 3.97±1.69,4.62±1.68,3.77±1.74,and 3.11±1.63,respectively.The ES score of the YMSM with bachelor degree or above was higher than those with high school or less education degree(4.06±1.69 vs.3.53±1.62,t=2.41;P=0.018).The scores for ES,TAS,DI and overall sensation seeking among the YMSM with a disposable monthly income of over 2000 RMB Yuan were higher than among those with less than 2000 Yuan.The YMSM with homosexual orientation before the age of 18 years had higher scores of all the items of sensation seeking than those with the orientation at the age 18 years or above.The YMSM with histories of drug abuse,group sex or one night sex had higher scores for all items of sensation seeking compared to other YMSM.The YMSM who having unprotected anal sex had higher scores for ES,DI,and overall sensation seeking than those using condom consistently when having sexual activity.Conclusion High sensation seeking are correlated with higher education,good economic condition,having homosexual orientation under the age of 18 years,drug abuse,group sex or one night sex behaviors,and unprotected anal sex among YMSM and specific intervention programs need to be conducted among the YMSM with high sensation seeking.