Multidimensional factors associated with perceived risk of HIV among sexually experienced individuals in Portugal

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyse the factors (sociodemographic, sex-related, HIV-related, and psychological) associated with perceived risk of HIV (PRHIV) among sexually experienced individuals from the general population in Portugal. The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised 902 participants, who completed an online questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and sex-related data, HIV prophylaxis, HIV testing and knowledge, attachment, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and PRHIV. Multiple factors were significantly associated with higher PRHIV. These included self-defining as gay/lesbian or bisexual, not insisting on using condoms, having a higher number of sexual partners, using the Internet to find sexual partners, having had an STD, having anal and oral sex, and testing for HIV in the last year. Psychological factors such as higher levels of attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, higher use of expressive suppression emotional regulation strategy, and lower levels of distress tolerance were associated with higher PRHIV. This study, one of the few conducted in Europe, shows that diverse factors from different categories are associated with PRHIV, but sex-related factors have a prominent role. Our findings also suggest that to understand the formation of HIV risk perceptions, psychological factors regarding affect regulation should be considered, highlighting the importance of examining affect regulation in future interventions.