A Characterization of Internet Dating Network Structures among Nordic Men Who Have Sex with Men

BackgroundThe Internet has become an important venue for seeking sexual partners and may facilitate transmission of sexually transmitted infections. MethodsWe examined a 64-day data log of flirt messages expressing sexual interest among MSM within the Qruiser.com community. We used logistic regression to analyze characteristics of MSM sending and receiving flirt messages and negative binomial regression to examine individual activity and popularity. The structural properties, including the core structure of the flirt network, were analyzed. ResultsThe MSM population consisted of approximately 40% homosexuals and 37% bisexuals, while the remaining 23% included men who identified as heterosexual but searched for sex with men and “experimental”. MSM were more likely to send flirt messages if they were homosexual and aged 40+ years; young people aged out = 2162) and received (max kin = 84) were highly heterogeneous. Members in central cores were more likely homosexuals, singles, and aged 31–40 years. The probability of a matched flirt (flirt returned from target) increased from 1% in the outer core to 18% in the central core (core size = 4). DiscussionThe flirt network showed high degree heterogeneity similar to the structural properties of real sexual contact networks with a single central core. Further studies are needed to explore use of webcam for Internet dating.背景 互联网已成为寻觅性伴侣的重要渠道，同时可能会加速性传播感染的传播。 方法 本研究分析了Qruiser.com社区内男男性行为者（MSM, Men who have Sex with Men）之间表达性意向的调情消息的64天日志数据。采用逻辑回归分析发送和接收调情消息的男男性行为者的特征，并通过负二项回归探究个体的活动度与受欢迎程度；同时对调情网络的结构特征（包括核心结构）进行了分析。 结果 本次研究的男男性行为者群体中，约40%为同性恋者，37%为双性恋者，剩余23%为自称异性恋但寻求与男性发生性行为以及“尝试型”的男性。同性恋者及40岁以上的男男性行为者更易发送调情消息；发送（最大发送量为2162）与接收（最大接收量为84）的消息量均呈现高度异质性。网络核心圈层的成员更大概率为同性恋者、单身状态且年龄处于31-40岁区间。调情匹配（即目标对象回复调情消息）的概率从外围圈层的1%提升至核心圈层的18%（核心圈层规模为4）。 讨论 本研究中的调情网络呈现出高度的度异质性，与具备单一核心圈层的真实性接触网络的结构特征相似。未来仍需开展进一步研究，以探索网络摄像头在互联网交友中的应用。