Grant: Master's Award - Priority Announcement: HIV Research (SHOPP)

Despite education and prevention efforts aimed at reducing high-risk sexual behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM), MSM continue to have disproportionately higher rates of HIV infection than any other group in Canada. MSM also suffer from mental health problems such as mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders at a higher rate than their heterosexual counterparts, and research has shown a positive correlation between psychological problems and sexual risk-taking among adult MSM. One possible cause of mental health problems and HIV risk behaviour is the severity of bullying during childhood. Evidence suggests that being the recipient of childhood bullying is associated with poor mental health outcomes among MSM. The present study will examine the association between childhood bullying severity and high-risk sexual behaviour among MSM such as number of high-risk sexual partners and number of instances of unprotected anal intercourse. It will also examine the role that social anxiety, internalized homophobia, and self-esteem play in the association between childhood bullying and high-risk sexual behaviour among MSM. The present study will help researchers to better understand some of the factors that influence risky sexual behaviour in order to design more effective HIV prevention and mental health programs for this vulnerable population with the goal of reducing both mental health problems and HIV sexual risk behaviour in this high-risk population.