Minority Stress and Sexual Risk-taking in Gay Men: A Cross-cultural Analysis

Minority stress and sexual risk-taking were compared in men who have sex with gay men in Malaysia (n = 234) and Australia (n = 123) in a 2 x 2 multivariate analysis. Malaysian MSM scored higher than Australian MSM on religious motivation, IH, and anxious attachment, while Australian respondents scored higher on the number of sexual partners in the past year. Single men scored higher on anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions, the number of sexual partners, and condom use than did those in relationships. There were two interactions (condom use and number of partners in the past year); single Australian MSM more likely to use condoms than were Malaysian MSM, followed by Australians in relationships. Single Australian MSM reported the greatest number of partners, followed by single Malaysian MSM, while those in relationships had the least number of partners. These results provided some evidence for the minority stress model across culture.