Gay and bi men believe men they find ‘physically attractive’ are less likely to be HIV positive or have other STIs. Because of this, they are also less likely to use condoms when having sex with them.

That’s the conclusion of a study undertaken by researchers at the University of Maryland in the US. The results appeared in the Journal of Sex Research in March.

Given the popularity of dating apps, the authors say exploring physical attractiveness was of particular interest to them. Many men now turn to apps like Grindr to find sexual partners. Judgements about others are made based purely on photographs. Other studies have found we are less likely to discuss sexual health via apps.

The study involved 197 men who have sex with men in the United States. None were in a monogamous relationship and all used apps to meet other men.

It showed them video clips of other guys in both non-sexual and sexual scenarios.

Each man was shown clips of attractive men and clips of less-attractive men. The attractiveness of the men depicted was ranked in advance. Researchers used 22 other gay and bi men not included in the study to do the ranking.

Questions asked to determine if they found men attractive

The study asked participants whether they thought the men were attractive, with questions such as, ‘Overall, how sexually desirable is the person in the photo?’

They were separately asked if they were aroused by the men they saw. Questions included: ‘How likely is it that you would have a one-night stand with this person?’.

Participants were then asked, on a scale of one to seven, whether they thought the men had ‘positive partner traits’ (‘trustworthy, responsible, healthy,’ etc).

The study then asked directly about the perceived risk sex with that person might pose. Questions included: ‘How likely do you think it is that you would get HIV—the virus that causes AIDS—from this person?’ and whether they were likely to use a condom with that person.

The study’s main findings were as follows:

• On average, when men were rated as more physically attractive, they were also rated as being less likely to have HIV or another STI. This was largely irrespective of whether participants were feeling sexually aroused when they were making their ratings.

• When men were rated as being less likely to have HIV or another STI, participants were less likely to intend to use condoms were they to have sex with those men

• Evidence supported the role of two thought processes to explain why physically attractive men are seen as less likely to have HIV or another STI.

So what’s the explanation for this?

The authors speculate the thought processes at play include the ‘halo effect’: In short, if someone possesses one positive trait (such as attractiveness), this leads others to believe they have other positive traits, such as perfect health.

Also, if you find someone physically attractive, there is more chance you will want to have sex with them. Therefore, you may potentially remove or overlook psychological barriers that might deter you from this goal. This includes considering whether someone has an STI or not.

The study says other factors could have also impacted condom use, such as whether someone was using PrEP.

Study limitations and further ‘attractive’ research suggestions

They also acknowledged the limitations of their study. For example, what men say in a study may differ compared to real-life bedroom situations. They also think they looked at a narrow sample of men (those who are HIV negative and not in relationships).

Also, on dating apps, users often offer more details than just photos alone. These can include information on HIV status and condom use.

They say they cannot fully explain some of the findings. They note, ‘Some scholars have proposed that rational decision-making processes become impaired when individuals are sexually aroused.’

‘Arousal … may override intentions to use condoms’

Commenting on the findings, Dr Tom Nadarzynski, a social scientist with London’s University of Westminster, told GSN, ‘Arousal associated with perceived physical attractiveness, especially in the context of sexual intercourse, may override intentions to use condoms.

‘Nevertheless, the findings of this research demonstrate a specific bias in thinking that sex with an attractive person could be less risky, which is unlikely to be accurate. Also, physical attractiveness is highly subjective, therefore it cannot be a reliable determinant of HIV status.’

The study’s authors suggest further research to determine what issues are at play, and whether other factors can influence the findings, such as alcohol or drug use.

Based on their results, they also conclude that dating apps are a great way to share information about sexual health to users.

Idea for study on attractiveness came from HIV testing

Dr Elissa Sarno, one of the study’s co-authors, formerly worked as a HIV test counselor. She says her experiences influenced her decision to undertake the survey.

‘I was interested in understanding how people make decisions about when to use a condom with a new sexual partner,’ she told Gay Star News.

‘My experiences as an HIV test counselor inspired me to study physical attractiveness. People getting tested told me that their sexual partners’ physical appearance influenced their beliefs about whether they may have HIV or another STI.

‘Future research is needed to support our results, to gain a better understanding of why we found these results, and lead to interventions that address the role of partner perceptions in condom use decision-making.’

‘This study illustrates that people often don’t make rational choices,’ says Matthew Hodson, Executive Director of HIV information organization, NAM.

‘There is no reason to suppose that people who are considered to be more attractive are any less likely to be HIV-positive or to have other STIs. From my personal experience, some of the sexiest men I know are living with HIV.

‘It’s easy to make a faulty risk analysis when emotions come into play. We’ve observed this throughout the course of the epidemic. In the heat of the moment, love or lust can alter our perceptions of risk, as can drugs or alcohol.

‘I hope that not many people genuinely expect to correctly identify someone with HIV just by looking at them.’

See also

https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/douching-hiv-sti/

New online tool answers all the questions you ever had about HIV

HIV stigma summed up in one cruel Grindr message