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American Journal of Men's Health logoLink to American Journal of Men's Health
. 2015 Oct 5;11(3):498–507. doi: 10.1177/1557988315609110

Transactional Sex With Regular and Casual Partners Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Detroit Metro Area

José A Bauermeister 1,✉, Lisa Eaton 2, Steven Meanley 1, Emily S Pingel 1; On Behalf of the UHIP Partnership
PMCID: PMC5247351  NIHMSID: NIHMS841469  PMID: 26438470

Abstract

Transactional sex refers to the commodification of the body in exchange for shelter, food, and other goods and needs. Transactional sex has been associated with negative health outcomes including HIV infection, psychological distress, and substance use and abuse. Compared with the body of research examining transactional sex among women, less is known about the prevalence and correlates of transactional sex among men. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of young men who have sex with men (ages 18-29) living in the Detroit Metro Area (N = 357; 9% HIV infected; 49% Black, 26% White, 16% Latino, 9% Other race), multivariate logistic regression analyses examined the association between transactional sex with regular and casual partners and key psychosocial factors (e.g., race/ethnicity, education, poverty, relationship status, HIV status, prior sexually transmitted infections [STIs], mental health, substance use, and residential instability) previously identified in the transactional sex literature. Forty-four percent of the current sample reported engaging in transactional sex. Transactional sex was associated with age, employment status, relationship status, and anxiety symptoms. When stratified, transactional sex with a regular partner was associated with age, educational attainment, employment status, relationship status, anxiety, and alcohol use. Transactional sex with a casual partner was associated with homelessness, race/ethnicity, employment status, and hard drug use. The implications of these findings for HIV/STI prevention are discussed, including the notion that efforts to address HIV/STIs among young men who have sex with men may require interventions to consider experiences of transactional sex and the psychosocial contexts that may increase its likelihood.

Keywords: financial hardship, HIV infection, LGBT, transactional sex

The Detroit Metro Area, hereafter referred to as Detroit, is one of the most economically strained and racially segregated areas in the United States (Farley, Danzinger, & Holzer, 2000), and it is the state’s HIV epicenter. Similar to other large cities, areas with higher HIV prevalence are more likely to be inhabited by racial/ethnic minorities and characterized by economic disadvantage. Consistent with national trends (U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2012), new HIV infections among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) between the ages of 13 and 29 years are increasing in Detroit (Michigan Department of Community Health, 2014). Socially, Detroit has witnessed a severe socioeconomic decline of its metropolitan area due to the breakdown of a once booming American auto industry (Schulz, Williams, Israel, & Lempert, 2002). Alongside these economic shifts, Detroit has suffered unprecedented increases in an array of negative social risk factors (e.g., unemployment, fewer quality jobs, crime, and homelessness; Lopez et al., 2012). These changes have forced marginalized communities to live in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods and work in high-risk, low-paying jobs and/or participate in informal (e.g., drug trade, sex work) economies (Graham et al., 2014). Taken together, these alarming estimates are a reminder that HIV disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and sexuality are a reflection of systemic inequality.

Although the involvement of men who have sex with men (MSM) in commercial sex work has received some attention in the HIV risk literature (Mimiaga, Reisner, Tinsley, Mayer, & Safren, 2009; Minichiello, Scott, & Callander, 2013; Reisner, Mimiaga, Mayer, Tinsley, & Safren, 2008), less is known about the role of transactional sex as a survival strategy in the lives of YMSM (Oldenburg, Perez-Brumer, Reisner, & Mimiaga, 2015). Transactional sex refers to the commodification of the body in exchange for shelter, food, and other goods and needs (Higgins, Hoffman, & Dworkin, 2010; Walls & Bell, 2011). Transactional sex has been linked to numerous risk factors, including increased HIV infection and transmission, increased substance abuse, and increased mental health problems (Kalichman, Simbayi, Kaufman, Cain, & Jooste, 2007; Reisner et al., 2008; Windle, 1997). To date, research on the predictors of transactional sex involvement among male samples is relatively sparse, with most of the data available focused in non-U.S. contexts (Baral, Sifakis, Cleghorn, & Beyrer, 2007; Beyrer et al., 2012; Dunkle et al., 2007).

Prevalence rates of men who engage in transactional sex vary considerably across studies, in part due to the conflation of commercial sex work and transactional sex in the peer-reviewed literature. Whereas commercial sex work (e.g., street workers, online escorts) is considered an occupation focused on selling sex in exchange for money (Koken, Parsons, Severino, & Bimbi, 2005; Mimiaga et al., 2009; Parsons, Koken, & Bimbi, 2004), transactional sex is conceptually different by acknowledging that the economic motivations and transactions (e.g., money, shelter, gifts, or other forms of tangible support) are one of many reasons for the pursuit and maintenance of a variety of relationships and sexual encounters (Higgins et al., 2010; Walls & Bell, 2011). Researchers have noted that both commercial sex work and transactional sex are more prevalent in socioeconomically strained contexts, influence individuals’ sexual agency, and increase rates of HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infection) transmission. The conflation between socioeconomic disadvantage and HIV/STI risk behaviors has been acknowledged among MSM engaging in both commercial sex work and transactional sex (Cáceres, Aggleton, & Galea, 2008). A study conducted in North Carolina, for example, reported that MSM were more likely to sell or purchase sex if they were older or homeless, had greater alcohol/drug consumption, experienced higher psychological distress symptoms, and engaged in increased risky sexual behaviors (Bobashev, Zule, Osilla, Kline, & Wechsberg, 2009). On the contrary, being employed and being in a romantic relationship reduced the odds of selling or purchasing sex. In a sample of drug-using MSM recruited through street-based outreach in California, Newman, Rhodes, and Weiss (2004) reported that sex trade was related to substance use and homelessness.

Research investigating social and contextual factors influencing transactional sex has largely overlooked relational factors; it is unclear how transactional sex manifests across different relationship typologies (e.g., regular vs. casual partners). Given the distinct power dynamics that may emerge across different sexual partnerships, it is vital that research focuses on whether the likelihood of engaging in transactional sex varies by partner type, and how the psychosocial correlates of transactional sex differ across these relationship contexts. Building on prior work by Dunkle, Wingood, Camp, and DiClemente (2010), the current study included measures of lifetime prevalence of transactional sex among YMSM in two relational contexts: (a) staying in a relationship with a regular partner for more than desired due to socioeconomic reasons and (b) engaging in sex with a casual partner to offset socioeconomic difficulties. Given the increasing emphasis to understand and address YMSM’s relationship dynamics in HIV/STI prevention and care, a more nuanced exploration of transactional sex involvement deserves further inquiry in order to parse out the risks as they relate to different sex exchange dynamics.

The current study aims to examine the prevalence and risk correlates of transactional sex in a sample of YMSM living in Detroit. The current study had three objectives. First, the prevalence of any transactional sex and its relationship to sociodemographic (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, HIV status, and residential instability) and risk factors (e.g., mental health symptoms, prior STIs, substance use) were examined. Second, the prevalence and risk correlates of transactional sex across each relationship type were assessed. Third, sociodemographic and risk correlates shared or unique across transactional sex partnerships were compared.

Method

Data for this article come from a cross-sectional observational study examining the structural and psychosocial vulnerabilities experienced by YMSM in Detroit (Bauermeister et al., 2014). To be eligible for participation, recruits had to be between the ages of 18 and 29 years; identify as male or transgender; report currently residing in Detroit (as verified by zip code and IP address), and report ever having had sex with men.

Participants were recruited online and in person. On the Internet, advertisements were posted on Black Gay Chat Live and Facebook. In-person recruitment occurred across gay bars, clubs, and community events frequented by the target population, as well as by staff from community partner agencies, clinics, and other agencies in Detroit working with YMSM (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations, AIDS service organizations, and community and university health clinics). Advertisements displayed brief information about the survey, a mention of a $30 VISA e-gift card incentive on completion, and the survey’s website. The survey was available in English and Spanish.

A total of 1,183 entries between May and September 2012 were recorded. Best practices to identify duplicates and falsified entries (N = 341; 28.8% of all recorded entries) were used. This process included examining participants’ online presence, e-mail and IP addresses, operating system and browser information, irregular answer patterns, and time taken to complete survey (Bauermeister et al., 2012). Of the remaining 842 recorded screeners, 381 entries were identified as being ineligible to participate in the current survey based on study criteria. The final count consisted of an analytic sample of N = 461 sexual minority young adults, of which 32 (6.94%) were eligible and consented but did not commence the survey (i.e., a study completion rate of 93.05%). For those questionnaires that were incomplete, participants were sent two reminder e-mails that encouraged them to complete the questionnaire; one e-mail was sent a week after they had started the questionnaire and another was sent a week before the questionnaire was scheduled to close.

For this analysis, transgender participants (n = 32) were excluded as there were too few observations to make reliable estimates and inferences about this population in the current multivariate analyses. Of the current total analytic sample, 40 participants were excluded as a result of incomplete responses in one or more of the variables of interest. The only observed sociodemographic differences between participants with missing responses and those with complete data were level of educational attainment and income. Participants with missing data exhibited lower levels of educational attainment (M = 2.95, SD = 1.34; t(395) = 2.29, p < .05) than participants with complete data (M = 3.44, SD = 1.31). Participants with missing data (N = 21, 72.4%; χ2(1) = 8.38, p < .01) exhibited a higher percentage of participants with an annual income at or below the federal poverty line compared with participants with complete data (N = 158, 44.3%).

Procedures

Web surveying was developed using best practices (Couper, 2008), including various iterations of pilot testing prior to data collection. Study data were protected with a 128-bit secure sockets layer encryption and kept within a University of Michigan firewalled server. On entering the study site, participants were asked to enter a valid and private e-mail address, which served as their username. This allowed participants to save their answers and, if unable to complete the questionnaire in one sitting, continue the questionnaire at a later time. On completing an eligibility screener, eligible youth were presented with a detailed consent form that explained the purpose of the study and their rights as participants and asked to acknowledge that they read and understood each section of the consent form.

Consented participants then answered a 45- to 60-minute questionnaire that covered assessments regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, HIV status, individual-level characteristics (i.e., sexual and substance use behaviors), perceptions and experiences with community (e.g., social networks, neighborhood, stigma, participation in minority communities), general mood over the past few months, and their hopes and dreams. Participants were compensated via e-mail on completion of the questionnaire. A Certificate of Confidentiality was acquired from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to protect study data. The authors’ institutional review board approved all study procedures.

Measures

Transactional Sex

Participants were asked to report their lifetime engagement in transactional sex for socioeconomic means within a main/regular partnership (Dunkle et al., 2010). They also answered their engagement in transactional sex within a casual partnership. Engagement was measured using four items for both relationship types: “paying for things that I couldn’t afford by myself,” “having a place to live,” “paying for groceries, utilities, or other bills,” and “providing for someone else who depends on me for financial support.” Transactional Sex variable was developed that assessed whether they had reported any transactional sex irrespective of partner type (0 = no, 1 = yes). A composite sum score was created for each relationship type (range = 0-4); however, given the nonnormal distribution of these variables, a lifetime dichotomous transactional sex variable was created for regular and casual partners.

Sexual Health Medical History

Participants were asked to report their current HIV status (0 = negative, 1 = positive, 2 = unsure/unknown) as well as whether they had ever been previously diagnosed with an STI (e.g., gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, etc.) by a health care provider (0 = no, 1 = yes).

Depression

Items on depression were adopted from the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Irwin, Artin, & Oxman, 1999). All 10 items were asked on a 4-point Likert-type scale (1 = rarely or none, 2 = occasionally, 3 = some or a little of the time, 4 = all of the time) and based on how the participant felt in the prior week. Positively worded items were reverse-coded and then all items were averaged. This depression scale exhibited high reliability (Cronbach’s α = .82).

Anxiety

Six items from the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983) were used to assess anxitey symptoms. Items were offered on a 5-point scale (1 = never, 2 = almost never, 3 = sometimes, 4 = fairly often, 5 = very often) and summed together for a composite anxiety score. This anxiety scale also yielded high reliability (Cronbach’s α = .92).

Prior Mental Health Diagnoses

Participants reported on whether a doctor, psychologist, or mental health professional had ever told them they had a mental health condition (0 = no, 1 = yes).

Substance Use

To ascertain participants’ substance use, two items asked how often alcohol and marijuana were used in the past 30 days. Both items were offered on a 7-point scale (0 = 0 times, 1 = 1-2 times, 2 = 3-5 times, 3 = 6-9 times, 4 = 10-19 times, 5 = 20-39 times, 6 = 40+ times). Using the same 7-point scale, the authors ascertained whether participants had used the following hard drugs in the prior 30 days: powder cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), poppers (amyl nitrite), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), crack cocaine, heroin, and nonprescribed medications, including erectile dysfunction pills. Given the low prevalence for each of these hard drugs, a mean frequency score across these hard drugs was computed.

Demographic Characteristics

Participants were asked to report on standard demographic characteristics including age (years), sexual identity, and race/ethnicity. Participants were asked to indicate which of the following terms corresponded with their primary sexual identity: gay or homosexual, bisexual, straight/heterosexual, and same-gender loving, MSM, or other. For the purposes of these analyses, participants’ answers were collapsed into three categories: gay/homosexual, bisexual, or another sexual identity. Participants also indicated their race (Black/African American, White, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Other) and Spanish/Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. Most Latinos identified as White/European American and/or as Other, making it difficult to have sufficient cases to represent other Latino racial subgroups (e.g., Black Latino, Asian Latino, and/or Native American Latino) in the current multivariate analyses. Due to small variances, race/ethnicity was collapsed to four levels (0 = Black/African/American, 1 = White/Caucasian, 2 = Latino, 3 = Other race).

Participants’ employment status, income, housing stability, and relationship status was also ascertained. Participants noted their highest educational attainment (1 = less than high school, 2 = high school or GED, 3 = technical/associate degree, 4 = some college, 5 = college or graduate work). Participants’ income was dichotomized into above or below the federal poverty line. Residential instability was ascertained by whether or not (0 = no, 1 = yes) participants had spent at least one night in the past 30 days in a shelter, public place not intended for sleeping (e.g., bus station, car, abandoned building), on the street or outside, in a temporary housing program, or in a welfare or voucher motel. Participants were also asked if they were currently in a relationship (1 = yes, 0 = no).

Data Analytic Strategy

Three sets of analyses were conducted. First, study variables were examined using univariate statistics for the entire sample (N = 357), followed by mean and proportion comparisons based on whether they had ever engaged in any transactional sex using t tests and χ2 (see Table 1). Second, prevalence estimates regarding YMSM’s motivations to engage in transactional sex across partner types were computed (see Table 2). Finally, logistic regression models (see Table 3) were estimated to examine whether the current psychosocial correlates were associated with the odds of engaging in transactional sex (i.e., any transactional sex, transactional sex within a main partnership, transactional sex with a casual partner). For brevity, only statistically significant findings (p < .05) are reported.

Table 1.

Descriptive Statistics by Transactional Sex (N = 357).

Variable Full sample, N = 357 No transactional sex, N = 201 Any transactional sex, N = 156 t/χ2
Age, M (SD) 23.13 (2.86) 22.99 (2.81) 23.32 (2.91) −1.10
Race/ethnicity, N (%) 8.25*
 Black/African American 174 (48.7) 93 (46.3) 81 (51.9)
 White 95 (26.6) 65 (32.3) 30 (19.2)
 Latino 56 (15.7) 27 (13.4) 29 (18.6)
 Other race/ethnicity 32 (9.0) 16 (8.0) 16 (10.3)
Sexual identity, N (%) 2.22
 Gay/homosexual 300 (84.0) 174 (86.6) 126 (80.8)
 Bisexual 28 (7.8) 13 (6.5) 15 (9.6)
 Other sexual identity 29 (8.1) 14 (3.9) 15 (9.6)
Education level, M (SD) 3.44 (1.31) 3.67 (1.25) 3.15 (1.33) 3.76***
Employment status 12.35**
 Full-time 143 (40.0) 94 (46.8) 49 (31.4)
 Part-time 106 (29.7) 60 (29.9) 46 (29.5)
 Unemployed 108 (30.3) 47 (23.4) 61 (39.1)
Living in poverty, N (%) 0.72
 At or below poverty line 158 (44.3) 85 (42.3) 73 (46.8)
 Above poverty line 199 (55.7) 116 (57.7) 83 (53.2)
Residentially unstable, N (%) 5.57*
 No 298 (83.5) 176 (87.6) 122 (78.2)
 Yes 59 (16.5) 25 (12.4) 34 (21.8)
In a relationship, N (%) 10.25***
 No 210 (58.8) 133 (66.2) 77 (49.4)
 Yes 147 (41.2) 68 (33.8) 79 (50.6)
HIV status, N (%) 1.48
 Negative 274 (76.8) 154 (76.6) 120 (76.9)
 Positive 33 (9.2) 16 (8.0) 17 (10.9)
 Unknown 50 (14.0) 31 (15.4) 19 (12.2)
Prior STI diagnosis, N (%) 1.77
 No 286 (80.1) 166 (82.6) 120 (76.9)
 Yes 71 (19.9) 35 (17.4) 36 (23.1)
Depression, M (SD) 1.95 (0.58) 1.82 (0.55) 2.11 (0.57) −4.89***
Anxiety, M (SD) 1.75 (0.92) 1.55 (0.75) 2.01 (1.05) −4.84***
Prior mental health diagnosis, N (%) 2.86
 Yes 328 (91.9) 189 (94.0) 139 (89.1)
 No 29 (8.1) 12 (6.0) 17 (10.9)
Alcohol use, M (SD) 2.41 (1.60) 2.20 (1.49) 2.67 (1.69) −2.78**
Marijuana use, M (SD) 1.49 (2.07) 1.09 (1.76) 2.00 (2.33) −4.05***
Hard drug use, M (SD) 0.08 (0.31) 0.05 (0.25) 0.11 (0.37) −1.65
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Note. STI = sexually transmitted infection.

*

p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Table 2.

Prevalence of Transactional Sex Motivations by Relationship Type Among YMSM Who Engaged in Transaction Sex (N = 156).

I have stayed with a main partner longer than I wanted to because . . . N (%) I have had sex with someone who was not a regular partner because . . . N (%)
I was worried about paying for things I couldn’t afford by myself. 117 (82.4) 79 (85.7)
I was worried about having a place to live. 100 (70.4) 54 (58.7)
I was worried about paying for groceries, utilities, or other bills. 98 (69.0) 73 (79.3)
I was worried about my ability to provide for someone else who depends on me for financial support. 92 (64.8) 49 (53.3)
Cumulative number of items endorsed, N (%)
 0 215 (60.2) 265 (74.2)
 1 31 (8.7) 21 (5.9)
 2 20 (5.6) 19 (5.3)
 3 28 (7.8) 8 (2.2)
 4 63 (17.6) 44 (12.3)
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Note. YMSM = young men who have sex with men. Columns percentages are computed based on the number of YMSM who engaged in transactional sex in each relationship type (main partner: N = 142; casual partner: N = 92).

Table 3.

Multivariate Logistic Regression of Transactional Sex by Partner Type (N = 357).

Any transactional sex
 Transactional sex with regular partner
 Transactional sex with casual partner
AOR 95% CI AOR 95% CI AOR 95% CI
Age 1.09 [0.99, 1.20] 1.13* [1.02, 1.24] 1.05 [0.94, 1.16]
Race/ethnicitya
 Black/African American 1.53 [0.81, 2.91] 1.72 [0.89, 3.33] 5.91*** [2.31, 15.11]
 Latino 1.94 [0.87, 4.35] 1.92 [0.85, 4.36] 7.23*** [2.51, 20.81]
 Other race/ethnicity 2.77* [1.02, 7.5] 3.12* [1.12, 8.75] 5.06** [1.45, 17.67]
Sexual identityb
 Bisexual 1.29 [0.51, 3.24] 1.31 [0.51, 3.33] 1.66 [0.65, 4.20]
 Other sexual identity 0.87 [0.36, 2.15] 0.65 [0.26, 1.64] 1.26 [0.49, 3.28]
Educational attainment 0.71** [0.56, .89] 0.67*** [0.53, 0.85] 0.92 [0.71, 1.18]
Employment statusc
 Part-time 1.62 [0.86, 3.07] 1.89 [0.99, 3.64] 2.28* [1.06, 4.90]
 Unemployed 2.61** [1.56, 5.42] 2.49* [1.18, 5.23] 4.77*** [2.03, 11.23]
Living in povertyd 0.83 [0.45, 1.56] 0.78 [0.41, 1.48] 0.611 [0.30, 1.26]
Residentially unstablee 1.34 [0.68, 2.65] 1.42 [0.71, 2.83] 2.10* [1.03, 4.28]
In a relationshipf 2.34*** [1.41, 3.90] 2.34*** [1.40, 3.91] 1.54 [0.86, 2.76]
HIV statusg
 Positive 0.58 [0.24, 1.39] 0.44 [0.18, 1.09] 1.01 [0.40, 2.58]
 Unknown 0.58 [0.27, 1.24] 0.63 [0.29, 1.39] 0.87 [0.35, 2.13]
Prior STI diagnosish 1.56 [0.65, 2.41] 1.25 [0.65, 2.39] 0.70 [0.33, 1.49]
Depression symptoms 1.62 [0.93, 2.81] 1.32 [0.76, 2.31] 1.35 [0.72, 2.52]
Anxiety symptoms 1.49* [1.04, 2.15] 1.47* [1.02, 2.12] 1.40 [0.95, 2.07]
Prior mental health diagnosis 1.81 [0.71, 4.60] 2.51 [0.98, 6.43] 2.15 [0.78, 5.93]
Alcohol use 1.17 [0.98, 1.40] 1.25* [1.04, 1.51] 1.17 [0.95, 1.44]
Marijuana use 1.11 [0.97, 1.27] 1.12 [0.97, 1.28] 1.07 [0.92, 1.25]
Hard drug use 1.48 [0.57, 3.86] 1.55 [0.58, 4.15] 2.78* [1.03, 7.55]
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Note. AOR = adjusted odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; STI = sexually transmitted infection.

a

White participants serve as referent group. bGay-identified participants serve as referent group. cFull-time workers serve as referent group. dLiving above poverty line serve as referent group. eParticipants who did not experience residential instability in the prior 30 days serve as referent group. fSingle participants serve as referent group. gHIV-negative participants serve as the referent group. hYMSM who have never had a diagnosed STI serve as referent group.

*

p ≤ .05. **p ≤ .01. ***p ≤ .001.

Results

Study Sample

The analyses consisted of a predominantly gay-identified sample (N = 300, 84.0%) with small minorities of bisexual participants (N = 28, 7.8%) and participants who identified with another sexual identity (N = 29, 8.1%). Black/African American YMSM comprised the largest group in the current sample (N = 174, 48.7%), followed by Non-Hispanic Whites (N = 95; 26.6%), Latinos (N = 56; 15.7%), and participants categorized in the Other race/Ethnicity group (N = 32; 9.0%). A majority of participants reported being HIV uninfected (N = 274, 76.8%), with smaller proportions reporting being HIV infected (N = 33, 9.2%), or unaware of their HIV status (N = 50, 14.0%). Mean age was 23.13 years (SD = 2.86). The sample reported a mean education level above a high school degree (M = 3.44, SD = 1.31). Forty percent (N = 143) of the current sample were full-time employed, 30% (N = 106) were part-time employed, and 30% reported unemployment (N = 108). More than half of the current sample reported being in a relationship (N = 210, 58.8%). Over half of participants reported an annual income above the federal poverty line (N = 199, 55.7%). Sixteen percent of the current sample (N = 58) reported spending at least one night homeless/transient in the past 30 days.

Any Transactional Sex

As reported in Table 1, 44% of YMSM engaged in transactional sex. YMSM who engaged in transactional sex were more likely to be a racial/ethnic minority. They were also more likely to have lower educational attainment, to be unemployed, to be residentially unstable, and report currently being in a relationship. Participants who reported transactional sex reported higher scores for depression and anxiety symptoms and greater alcohol and marijuana use. No differences were observed across age, sexual identity, poverty, HIV status, prior STI diagnosis, prior mental health diagnosis, or hard drug use.

As presented in Table 2, 40% of YMSM reported engaging in transactional sex with a main partner (N = 142). The most endorsed motivation for engaging in transactional sex with a main partner was being worried about paying for things that the YMSM could not afford by himself (82.4%), followed by being worried about where to live (70.4%), worried about paying for groceries, utilities, and other bills (69.0%), and worrying about assisting someone else financially (64.8%). Twenty-six percent of YMSM reported engaging in transactional sex with a casual partner (N = 92). The most endorsed motivation for engaging in transactional sex with a casual partner was being worried about not being able to afford things (85.7%), followed by worries about paying for groceries, utilities, and other bills (79.3%), being worried about a place to live (58.7%), and supporting someone else’s financial well-being (53.3%). The correlation between YMSM’s total number of endorsed motivations for engaging in transactional sex within a regular and casual partnership was r = .69 (p < .001).

Multivariate Analyses

Any Transactional Sex

A multivariate logistic regression analysis examining the odds of engaging in any transactional sex was conducted (see Table 3; χ2(21) = 90.68, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 30.1%). The odds of engaging in any transactional sex were associated positively with being in a relationship (p < .001), and having higher mean anxiety symptom scores (p < .05). Participants in the “Other race” category were more likely to report transactional sex than White participants (p < .05). Unemployed participants were more likely to report transactional sex than full-time employed participants (p < .01). Greater educational attainment was negatively associated with transactional sex (p < .01).

Transactional Sex Within a Main Partnership

A multivariate logistic regression (χ2(21) = 93.11, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 31.1%) was used to estimate the odds of engaging in transactional sex with a regular partner (see Table 3). The results indicated that the odds of engaging in transactional sex with a regular partner increased with age (p < .05). The odds of engaging in transactional sex within a main partnership were associated positively with being partnered currently (p < .001), having higher mean anxiety symptom scores (p < .05), and greater alcohol use (p < .05). Participants in the “Other race” category were more likely to report transactional sex within a main partnership than White participants (p < .05). Unemployed participants were more likely to report transactional sex within a main partnership than full-time employed participants (p < .05). Greater educational attainment was negatively associated with transactional sex (p < .001).

Transactional Sex With a Casual Partner

When the odds of engaging in transactional sex with a casual partner in the current multivariate analyses were examined (χ2(21) = 91.51, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 33.2%), it was discovered that Black/African American (p < .001), Latino (p < .001), and Other race/ethnicity (p < .01) participants were all more likely to report transactional sex with a casual partner than White counterparts. Compared with full-time employed participants, part-time employed (p < .05) and unemployed (p < .001) participants exhibited greater odds of transactional sex with casual partners. Participants who reported at least one night of residential instability in the prior 30 days were at increased odds of transactional sex with a casual partner (p < .05). Participants who reported hard drug use were also more likely to report transactional sex with a casual partner (p < .05).

Discussion

Given the gender inequities present in the current society, most of the research examining the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of transactional sex has focused on women, and the role of sex work and/or transactional sex among men is increasingly recognized as a public health problem (Oldenburg et al., 2015). These findings underscore the importance of examining and addressing transactional sex among men, above and beyond the assessment of sex work. In particular, it should be highlighted that over 40% of YMSM in the sample reported having engaged in transactional sex in their lifetime. This prevalence is much higher than the national 4.8% prevalence estimate reported in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health study among adolescent men who reported exchanging sex for drugs or money (Edwards, Iritani, & Hallfors, 2006). This elevated rate is alarming and underscores the need for intervention in this area.

YMSM who engaged in any transactional sex had less educational attainment and were more likely to be underemployed or unemployed. These findings emphasize the importance of considering how structural factors (e.g., low socioeconomic status and educational attainment) may foster circumstances that propel young men to engage in transactional sex as a method of gaining access to basic needs, and draw attention to the importance of examining structural factors as critical risk correlates when assessing the health and well-being of YMSM (Blankenship, Bray, & Merson, 2000; Gupta, Parkhurst, Ogden, Aggleton, & Mahal, 2008). Programs focused on identifying facilitators of, and alternative options to, transactional sex are warranted given the well-documented link between transactional sex and vulnerability to HIV and other STIs (Baral et al., 2007; Beyrer et al., 2012; Cáceres et al., 2008; Dunkle et al., 2007; Edwards et al., 2006; Koken et al., 2005; Mimiaga et al., 2009; Newman et al., 2004). For example, structural initiatives that include strategies to advance YMSM’s economic and educational attainment (e.g., education advancement trainings, job creation, and financial literacy) and/or help eliminate structural and social barriers (e.g., prejudice, homophobia, and stigma) that limit their access to existing socioeconomic resources should be examined as a risk reduction strategy. The development of these programs, however, will necessitate a multilevel framework that acknowledges and addresses social determinants affecting YMSM if they are to succeed.

Above and beyond the socioeconomic factors present in this sample, the current data are among the first to highlight how transactional sex and its correlates may differ by partner type among young men. Young men who reported transactional sex with a regular partner were more likely to report being in a relationship and were more likely to report greater anxiety symptoms and alcohol use. Given the definition used regarding transactional sex with a regular partner (i.e., staying in a relationship with a main partner for longer than desired due to financial needs), it is plausible that the anxiety and alcohol use associations observed are indicative of YMSM’s negative coping response to staying in a relationship and/or to having unmet financial needs. Future research that examines how financial strain may be influencing young men’s decisions to engage in transactional sex by staying in their relationships, as well as the toll of these relationships on men’s psychological well-being, is warranted. Given recent estimates suggesting that more than half of all HIV infections among MSM in the United States are attributable to a primary partner, these findings underscore the importance of addressing transactional sex, as well as mental health and substance use, in HIV/STI prevention and care programs for MSM in relationships.

YMSM who engaged in transactional sex with a casual partner were more likely to report being residentially unstable in the prior 30 days, were more likely to self-identify as a racial/ethnic minority group member, and more likely to report using hard drugs. Given the disproportionate HIV/STI burden faced by homeless (Gangamma, Slesnick, Toviessi, Serovich, 2008; Kipke, Weiss, & Wong, 2007; Walls & Bell, 2011) and racial/ethnic minority YMSM in the United States (Millett, Flores, Peterson, & Bakeman, 2007; Oster et al., 2011; Sullivan et al., 2014), these findings suggest that transactional sex with a casual partner may play an important factor in understanding their vulnerability to HIV/STIs. Situated within the social context of Detroit, it is important to acknowledge that both homeless and racial/ethnic minorities are disproportionately concentrated within the city of Detroit, as compared with more affluent cities and townships included in the metropolitan region. YMSM who engage in transactional sex with casual partners also reported higher odds of using hard drugs, mirroring prior findings from other populations (Kalichman et al., 2007; Newman et al., 2004; Reisner et al., 2008; Windle, 1997). Taken together, these associations with transactional sex are interpreted as being reflective of larger social factors (e.g., concentrated disadvantage and poverty within the City of Detroit) that are not modeled in the current analysis (Ayala, Bingham, Kim, Wheeler, & Millett, 2012). The current findings warrant further exploration and emphasize the importance of considering the social environment where transactional sex occurs, as well as examining how partner-level (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) and relationship-based (e.g., partner type, duration, communication) factors inform these disparities.

The current study has several limitations deserving mention. Findings from the study are based on a community sample of YMSM from the Detroit and surrounding areas; the generalization of these findings is limited due to the employed recruitment and survey methods. The extent to which these findings apply to the larger population of YMSM in Detroit is unknown and probabilistic sampling is needed to confirm findings. The findings speak solely to the experiences of cis-identified YMSM. Though this focus is not necessarily a limitation, the complexity and importance of understanding the experiences of transgender populations need to be acknowledged; prior evidence suggests that transgender populations may engage in transactional sex and survival sex more frequently than other populations. The measure of transactional sex focused on lifetime; given the high prevalence observed in this sample, future research examining recent experiences of transactional sex may be warranted. The current transactional sex measure did not include an item examining whether YMSM had exchanged sex for drugs. Prior studies have noted that some MSM may exchange sex for drugs; therefore, items examining the use of transactional sex to obtain drugs should be explored in future research. Finally, the cross-sectional nature of the current study limits the ability to make causal inference between transactional sex and the psychosocial factors examined in this article. Given the cross-sectional design and the number of associations examined, the authors may have increased the propensity for Type I errors. Therefore, future research should seek to replicate the current findings.

Conclusions

This study is among the first to highlight how different partnerships among YMSM are related to transactional sex and, thus, potential risk factors for HIV/STI. Given the high prevalence of lifetime transactional sex reported by the current study sample, there is a need to address this area when delivering intervention content. Understanding partner type when evaluating social determinants of engagement in transactional sex emerged in the current data as an important consideration. Partner type appears to be an overlooked although informative component of transactional sex and provides insight into potential motivating factors for engaging in transactional sex. Findings from this study also help us better understand the mechanisms—in this case structural factors—by which partner types can confer risk for HIV/STI. Future studies in these areas should investigate the likely bidirectional nature of engaging in transactional sex and experiencing hardships relating to structural factors, and effective interventions for providing alternative options to transactional sex.

Acknowledgments

The United for HIV Integration and Policy academic–community partnership included representatives from AIDS Partnership Michigan, the HIV/AIDS Resource Center, Detroit Latin@z, Ruth Ellis Center, and the University of Michigan’s Center for Sexuality & Health Disparities.

Footnotes

Authors’ Notes: The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the MAC AIDS Fund (Principal investigator: Bauermeister). Dr. Eaton was supported by two National Institutes of Health projects (R01MH094230; R01NR013865).

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