Impact of depression on sexual activity and risk taking among french gay men seeking sex on internet

Insertive UAIC was practised with 4.5 partners, and receptive UAIC with 4 partners. Sexual activity and risk-taking were substantially higher for HIV-positive men (M=46 partners, 58% UAIC), and HIV+ men had UAIC with more partners (insertive M=20, receptive M=22). Whereas depression lowered sexual desire among most gay men, a minority of men (22%) experienced the reverse effect. HIV+ men more often reported that depression strongly increased their sexual desires. These depressive sexual urges were found to increase sexual activity and reduce men’s control over their sex drive. The combined effects of depressed sexual urges, high level of sex-drive, and low control over sex-drive, explained 34% of the variance in risk behaviour in HIV-negative men and 56% of the variance in risk behaviour in HIV-positive men.   In some gay men, especially those who are HIV-positive, sexual activity seems to be used to cope with depressive moods. Sexual coping however significantly increases exposures to risk because it may result in sexual compulsivity and reduces the amount of control individuals have over their sex-drive. Tackling the issue of mental health amongst gay men is therefore an important challenge for the prevention of HIV.