There is a strong connection between depression and having sex without a condom among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom, aidsmap reports. Researchers analyzed recent survey data from 1,173 HIV-negative or untested MSM attending sexual health clinics in the UK. They presented their findings at the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV conference in Glasgow.

A total of 12.5 percent of the men had depressive symptoms. These men were more likely to report having intercourse without a condom during the previous three months: Overall, 63 percent of this group reported sex without a condom, while 32 percent reported condomless sex with two or more partners, and 37 percent with an HIV-positive partner or one of unknown HIV status.

After adjusting for various factors, the researchers found that those with depressive symptoms were 36 percent more likely to have condomless intercourse with multiple partners and 44 percent more likely to have condomless sex with partners of unknown HIV status than those who were not depressed.

Depressed men were not more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection, to have multiple sex partners or to report having had group sex than non-depressed men.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.