Public Health Messaging during the COVID Pandemic: Dating App Usage and Sexual Wellbeing among Men Who have Sex with Men
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Salford
Department Name: School of Health and Society
Abstract
Public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus are translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Engaging experiences of the minority group of men who have sex with men (MSM), we will provide rapid evidence on the approaches and responses to these messages in relation to using digital platforms to connect for sexual purposes. Organisations have variously advised MSM to practice sexual abstinence, engage in digitally mediated sexual encounters or wear masks and avoiding the exchange of saliva during sex. Campaigns are running which present the situation as a route to ending HIV. Yet, 8/7/2020 the government cut £5M from the pre-exposure prophylaxis budget - an effective of reducing HIV transmission. We must understand MSM's reception of these messages to impact upon policy and practice for this group, shed light on what to look for where minorities are concerned, and provide learning about COVID public health messaging that will benefit the general population.
To do this, we will:
> Run three online surveys to generate data about public sexual health messaging reception, and
dating/hooking up practices (WP1);
> Undertake a discourse analysis of the web page resources created by organisations who support
the health and wellbeing of MSM, and of the messaging provided by online dating and hook up
apps (WP2);
> Collect historical and ongoing conversational data from selected social and digital media
frequented by MSM. This data will be contextualised by analysing the media they are generated
with using the walkthrough method (WP3).
To do this, we will:
> Run three online surveys to generate data about public sexual health messaging reception, and
dating/hooking up practices (WP1);
> Undertake a discourse analysis of the web page resources created by organisations who support
the health and wellbeing of MSM, and of the messaging provided by online dating and hook up
apps (WP2);
> Collect historical and ongoing conversational data from selected social and digital media
frequented by MSM. This data will be contextualised by analysing the media they are generated
with using the walkthrough method (WP3).
Organisations
Publications
Upton M
(2022)
'Pandemic Sex: Queer Spaces and Future Intimacies.'
Upton M
(2022)
'Pandemic Sex: Queer Spaces and Future Intimacies.'
Mercer J
(2021)
'How to Have Sex in a Pandemic'
Mercer J
(2021)
The Future of Masculine Bodies, Sexualities and Affects dialogue
Description | These are preliminary findings as the final report is being written up. Our findings currently fall into the areas of: Mental Health during the pandemic Access to sexual health services Approaches to management of risk during sexual encounters Sexual ethics changes Changes in cultures of hooking up online and using technology Expanded versions of these publicly facing findings are available from our project website here: https://hub.salford.ac.uk/health-and-society-research/public-health-messaging-during-the-covid-pandemic-dating-app-usage-and-sexual-wellbeing-among-men-who-have-sex-with-men/ |
Exploitation Route | We are still working on this as we write up the project final findings. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice |
URL | https://hub.salford.ac.uk/health-and-society-research/public-health-messaging-during-the-covid-pandemic-dating-app-usage-and-sexual-wellbeing-among-men-who-have-sex-with-men/ |
Description | Kings Together Fund |
Amount | £19,991 (GBP) |
Organisation | King's College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 07/2022 |
Description | PhD Fee Waiver and Studentship to Work on Related Gender, Sexuality and Digital Media Project for Lisa Garwood-Cross |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Salford |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2021 |
End | 01/2022 |
Description | University of Salford Innovation Strategy Funding Scheme |
Amount | £49,271 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Salford |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2022 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Being LGBTQ Podcast Interview 1 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Rachel Katz was interviewed on the Being LGBTQ podcast about the covid sex lives project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://open.spotify.com/episode/18wGACcaxPxrOS70QXVAmi?si=cOF8BlgJT5Gnm11RTbiaYg |
Description | Being LGBTQ Podcast Interview 2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Ben Light and Lisa Garwood-Cross were interviewed about the preliminary findings of the COVID Sex Lives Project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kopBK5jhwIUbDR3IHt2E6?si=c3c886e4799c4590 |
Description | Preliminary Findings from the COVID Sex Lives Project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | this was a preliminary findings event to promote the project. A larger wrap up engagement event is planned for 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |