Ben Bavinton discusses the findings of the PASH study with regard to the sexual behaviour of young gay men.

1. Age differences and sexual risk
behaviour among Australian gay and
bisexual men
Benjamin R Bavinton
The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia
13th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases
Symposium: Are young gay men really so different?
20 February 2014

2. Title
Sub-title
• Pleasure and Sexual Health (PASH):
– Online cross-sectional survey conducted in 2009
– Data reported here are from 1,476 HIV-negative men

3. Results
• The vast majority of gay men have sex with people around their
own age.
• Respondents’ own age was not associated with having UAI.
• Younger age was marginally associated with taking the
receptive position in anal sex.
• Generally, relative age difference was not associated with
engaging in UAI.
• Younger men having sex with much older men was associated
with sexual sensation seeking, and identifying as a “boy”.
• In younger men having UAIC: decisions about condom use were
mostly made by the respondent and were not related to age
difference.

4. Discussion
• Previous research:
– Internationally: having sex with (much) older men has been
associated with increased HIV risk.
– Australia: having a much older partner may be associated with
increased HIV risk; though age difference is not related to UAI.
• Age difference related to sexual position.
• No support for assumptions about age-related power dynamics
and risk behaviour.
• The role of “daddy/boy” subcultures.

5. Health Promotion Implications
• Although most men have sex with men of the same age, HIV
prevention programs should not assume this to always be the
case.
• Social stigma attached to young men having sex with (much) older
men may need to be challenged to enable HIV prevention.
• The assumption younger men lack power during sex with older
men may need to be questioned.
• Younger men who explicitly desire sex with (much) older men
should be aware of the higher background prevalence of HIV
among older gay men.
• Health promotion may need to specifically target gay men engaged
in age-differentiated sex and to address the values and beliefs
associated with such behaviour.

6. Acknowledgements
• PASH Study Participants
• Co-authors:
Garrett Prestage, Michael Hurley, Jeff Jin, Stephen Scott
• Other members of the PASH Study Team:
Ian Down, Jack Bradley, Pól McCann, Graham Brown
• Funders:
Departments of Health of NSW, Victoria, South Australia and
Western Australia
Citation: Prestage G, Jin F, Bavinton B, et al. Sex Transm Infect 2013;89:653–658.