Negotiating HIV protection in the era of online dating and Pre-Exposure-Prophylaxis (PrEP). Insights into how men having sex with men (MSM) living in Switzerland negotiate their HIV protection with non-steady partners
Loading...
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2026
Type of student thesis
Course of study
Collections
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Sexuality & Culture
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
Series number
Volume
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Springer
Place of publication / Event location
Edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
HIV protection depends on the consent and cooperation of sexual partners, which requires negotiation. Early HIV-related research identified condom negotiation strategies. However, strategies used specifically among men having sex with men (MSM) remained underexamined. This project explored how HIV-negative MSM negotiate their protection from HIV when having sex with non-steady partners, considering current risk reduction practices, the availability of several effective biomedical prevention options, the strong presence of STIs and prevailing online dating. We conducted in-person interviews with a maximum variation sample of 29 MSM, aged 21–80, combining narrative interviewing with a virtual-reality serious game and a series of standardized questions. We analyzed the interview data using content analysis, combining deductive and inductive approaches. We identified three categories of negotiation strategies used in chats, during in-person dates or when having sex: (i) subject-centered strategies anchored in the will and determination of MSM; (ii) strategies centered on sexual arousal, asserting MSM’s preferred protection strategy; (iii) strategies centered on risk communication. Further, we identified actions that interrupt negotiations and directly enforce protection or bypass negotiations. Participants combined several strategies during negotiations. The strategies also demonstrated versatility: most were used for various aims and were not systematically related to a specific personal protection strategy. This study posits an elaborate range of HIV-protection negotiation strategies used by MSM, including strategies not previously described. It contributes to a more nuanced understanding of negotiation strategies and encourages prevention professionals to reflect on the attention given to negotiation strategies in prevention offers.
Keywords
Event
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
Conference end date
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
1095-5143
1936-4822
1936-4822
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Hybrid
License
Citation
Gredig, D., Bigoni, D., Bogdanovic, J., & Weber, P. (2026). Negotiating HIV protection in the era of online dating and Pre-Exposure-Prophylaxis (PrEP). Insights into how men having sex with men (MSM) living in Switzerland negotiate their HIV protection with non-steady partners. Sexuality & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-025-10505-2