Alcohol and "Heat of the Moment" Sexual Decision Making

Description

HIV transmission remains a significant public health concern, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) continues to be the major route of transmission for MSM. Thus, to reduce the incidence of HIV, it is critical to identify how contextual risk factors influence CAI and develop behavioral strategies that modify risk factors directly or reduce their influence on behavior. This study will examine the mechanisms through which one of the central contextual risk factors, heavy drinking, influences sexual decision processes in the natural environment and test the benefit of a brief intervention designed to reduce sexual risk behavior among those who engage in heavy drinking.

Conditions

Alcohol Drinking, Sex, Unsafe, Hiv

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

HIV transmission remains a significant public health concern, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) continues to be the major route of transmission for MSM. Thus, to reduce the incidence of HIV, it is critical to identify how contextual risk factors influence CAI and develop behavioral strategies that modify risk factors directly or reduce their influence on behavior. This study will examine the mechanisms through which one of the central contextual risk factors, heavy drinking, influences sexual decision processes in the natural environment and test the benefit of a brief intervention designed to reduce sexual risk behavior among those who engage in heavy drinking.

Alcohol and "Heat of the Moment" Sexual Decision Making Among MSM: Identifying Mechanisms of Sexual Risk and Promoting Behavior Change Through Brief Intervention

Alcohol and "Heat of the Moment" Sexual Decision Making

Condition
Alcohol Drinking
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Boston University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * At least 18 years of age
  • * Cisgender man who has had condomless anal intercourse with another man in the past 3 months
  • * Engaged in heavy drinking (assessed by either weekly National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines \[\> 14 for men\], and/or a heavy drinking episode in the past month \[\> 4 drinks on an occasion\])
  • * Has a smartphone
  • * HIV-infection
  • * Currently using PrEP
  • * In an exclusive monogamous sexual relationship
  • * History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, or current suicidal intent
  • * Current treatment for alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder
  • * Unable to provide one or more individuals who can serve as an alternate contact

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Boston University Charles River Campus,

Tibor Palfai, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Boston University

Study Record Dates

2026-11