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Received: 25 January 2022 | Revised: 8 July 2022 | Accepted: 17 July 2022

DOI: 10.1111/jan.15391

E M P I R I C A L R E S E A R C H - ­ Q U A L I T A T I V E

Perceptions and experiences of sexual violence among Chinese


men who have sex with men in Hong Kong

Edmond Pui Hang Choi1 | Jojo Yan Yan Kwok1 | Kitty Wai Ying Choi1,2 |
Jung Jae Lee1 | Kris Yuet Wan Lok1 | Janet Yuen Ha Wong1 |
1 3,4
Daniel Yee Tak Fong | Eric Yuk Fai Wan | William Chi Wai Wong3 |
5,6,7
Eric Pui Fung Chow
1
School of Nursing, The University of
Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to understand the perceptions and experiences of sexual vio-
2
Sticky Rice Love, Hong Kong
3
Department of Family Medicine and lence among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong.
Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine,
The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Design: The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design with thematic analysis.
Hong Kong Methods: Thirty-­one Chinese MSM were recruited in Hong Kong from May to June
4
Department of Pharmacology and
2019 using purposive sampling. Individual semi-­structured interviews were con-
Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong,
Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong ducted with the participants. The interview data were transcribed verbatim from the
5
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred recordings and analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach.
Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
6 Results: Four themes were identified: (1) different forms of sexual violence, from
Central Clinical School, Monash
University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia physical to virtual; (2) inner struggles with fears and worry; (3) low awareness and
7
Melbourne School of Population perceived risk of sexual violence –­ ‘it has nothing to do with me’ and (4) dilemma to-
and Global Health, The University of
Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
wards sexual violence prevention.
Conclusion: The study provided qualitative evidence regarding the experiences and
Correspondence
Edmond Pui Hang Choi, School of Nursing,
perceptions of sexual violence among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. Physical and
The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, image-­based forms of sexual violence were identified, which led the participants
Academic Building, 3 Sassoon Road, Pok
Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
to experience psychological distress, fear of contracting human immunodeficiency
Email: h0714919@connect.hku.hk virus/other sexually transmitted infections, notoriety within the gay community, and

Funding information
discrimination and stigmatization within their family and workplace. To reduce the risk
Australian National Health and Medical of sexual violence, some participants were cautious about the venue in which they
Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging
Leadership Investigator Grant, Grant/
engaged in sex and the habit of sharing sexually explicit photos with others. However,
Award Number: GNT1172873; Early some participants had low awareness and perceived risk of sexual violence.
Career Scheme, Research Grants Council,
Grant/Award Number: 27607518
Impacts: This study was the first to fill the research gap on sexual violence issues
among Chinese MSM using dating apps in Hong Kong. The qualitative findings en-
hanced the scholarly understanding of Chinese MSM's perceptions and experiences
of sexual violence. The study findings can help nursing staff and other healthcare
professionals to develop tailored primary, secondary and tertiary sexual violence pre-
vention programmes for MSM or beyond.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-­NonCommercial-­NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in
any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-­commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

J Adv Nurs. 2023;79:1385–1398.  wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jan | 1385


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1386 CHOI et al.

1 | I NTRO D U C TI O N found that 8.8% of people have had sexually explicit images or
videos shared without their consent, 7.2% have been threatened
Sexual violence is a significant public health problem that af- with ‘sext’ distribution and 17.6% have had sexually explicit im-
fects people across different races, socioeconomic statuses, gen- ages taken without permission (Patel & Roesch, 2022). Regarding
der identities and sexual orientations. The Centers for Disease perpetration, 8.9% have non-­consensually taken a sexually explicit
Control and Prevention defines sexual violence as ‘a sexual act image (Patel & Roesch, 2022).
that is committed or attempted by another person without freely Compared with heterosexual populations in which the issue of
given consent of the victim or against someone who is unable to sexual violence has been extensively studied, research on sexual
consent or refuse’ (Basile et al., 2014). Sexual violence includes a violence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is still very lim-
continuum of behaviours, such as attempted or completed rape, ited (Binion & Gray, 2020; Callan et al., 2021; Dame et al., 2020). A
sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, forced chemsex (i.e. systematic review and meta-­analysis using 52 studies published be-
the use of psychoactive substances before or during sexual activ- tween 2000 and 2020 reported that the pooled prevalence of sex-
ities), non-­consensual condom removal during sexual intercourse ual violence victimization among MSM was 9% (Liu et al., 2021). A
referred to as ‘stealthing’ and image-­b ased sexual violence (Bonar quantitative study found that nearly 30% of MSM have experienced
et al., 2021; Dills et al., 2016; Eaton & McGlynn, 2020; Gaspar image-­based sexual violence, such as receiving unwanted sexually
et al., 2021; Lutgendorf, 2019). explicit images (29.8%) and being threatened with the distribution
of nude pictures to others (19.1%; Powell et al., 2020). In fact, stud-
ies have suggested that MSM experience sexual violence at a rate
1.1 | Background of nearly six times that of those who engage in heterosexual sex
(Dame et al., 2020). Some quantitative studies have been conducted
One of the key features of contemporary digital society is the in- to examine the prevalence of sexual violence in Hong Kong. A study
tegration of communications and digital technologies into every- reported that sexual violence in young adults engaged in homosex-
day life. The entangling of the social and the digital has particular ual or bisexual sex was about twice as high as those engaged in het-
implications for interpersonal relationships (Powell et al., 2020). erosexual sex (22% vs 11.1%, p < .001; Wong et al., 2021). Another
Technology-­f acilitated sexual violence, which refers to a range of study on university students in Hong Kong reported that, compared
behaviours in which digital technologies are used to facilitate both with heterosexual males, MSM were likelier to experience sexual
face-­to-­f ace and virtual sexual violence, has become increasingly violence (adjusted odds ratio: 4.74, p < .01; Choi et al., 2018). The
common (Henry & Powell, 2018). The advent of smartphones, health impacts of sexual violence are substantial and can include
dating apps and easy access to the internet have made it easier depression, anxiety, post-­traumatic stress disorder, suicide and
for individuals to both perpetrate and become victims of sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other
violence (Choi et al., 2018; Patel & Roesch, 2022). A study in sexually transmitted infections (STIs; Dame et al., 2020).
Australia reported that 62.3% of study participants had experi- Internalized homophobia, which is the degree to which indi-
enced technology-­f acilitated sexual violence victimization (Powell viduals belonging to a sexual minority have internalized negative
& Henry, 2019). feelings, attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and assumptions about their
Image-­based sexual violence is an emerging form of technology-­ homosexuality, was found to be a factor associated with sexual vi-
facilitated sexual violence that deserves attention. McGlynn and olence (Badenes-­Ribera et al., 2019; Callan et al., 2021; Rostosky
Rackley (2017) broadly define it as the ‘non-­consensual creation et al., 2007). Previous studies have illustrated that the deep and
and distribution of sexually explicit images’. According to Henry profound influence of Chinese values, including filial piety, collec-
et al. (2019), image-­based sexual violence includes three main tivism and familism, can deepen internalized homophobia among
behaviours: (1) the non-­consensual creation of nude or sexual Chinese MSM (Huang et al., 2020). Studies have suggested that
images, including images that are digitally altered or manipulated internalized homophobia is associated with sexual violence among
to add a person's face to a pre-­existing nude or sexual image; (2) MSM (Badenes-­Ribera et al., 2019; Finneran & Stephenson, 2014)
the non-­consensual distribution of nude or sexual images; and (3) because negative assumptions about homosexuality are integrated
threats to distribute such images. O'Malley and Holt (2022) include into an individual's identity (West, 2012). Thus, MSM with negative
sextortion within the continuum of image-­based sexual violence. attitudes towards sexual minority identities might engage in sexual
Victims of sextortion are threatened to have their sexually explicit violence against other men (Badenes-­Ribera et al., 2019).
materials, including information and images, shared unless they To date, sexual violence among MSM has been understudied.
satisfy the requests of the perpetrator. As access to the internet Recent reviews have also called for more empirical studies to un-
has increased and online platforms are being extensively used, derstand the nature of sexual violence among MSM, as well as their
sextortion has transformed into the online context and become an perceptions and experiences (Callan et al., 2021; Dame et al., 2020).
emerging phenomenon of sexual violence (O'Malley & Holt, 2022). Furthermore, most previous studies on sexual violence among MSM
Some quantitative studies have been conducted to examine the have been conducted in Western populations, particularly in the
prevalence of image-­based sexual violence. A recent meta-­analysis United States. Studies on the experiences and perceptions of sexual
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CHOI et al. 1387

violence among MSM within Chinese contexts are lacking. As such, 2.3 | Participants
the Chinese population is underrepresented.
In particular, values pertinent to traditional Confucianism and The ideal sample size has not been standardized in qualitative stud-
Western Christianity continue to influence the culture in Hong ies, but based on previous guidelines (Dworkin, 2012; Saunders
Kong (Kwok & Wu, 2015) and societal attitudes about equality and et al., 2018) and qualitative studies on sexual violence among MSM
the acceptance of sexual minorities (Yeo & Chu, 2018). Scholars (Dame et al., 2020; Peitzmeier et al., 2017), we planned to recruit at
have highlighted that the obstacles Chinese sexual minorities in least 30 Chinese MSM in the current study to obtain a good variety
Hong Kong encounter include opposition from religious bodies of experiences and responses. In total, 31 study participants were
and the workplace, as well as disapproval from their families (Yeo recruited using criterion and snowball sampling approaches –­types
& Chu, 2018). Current laws in Hong Kong explicitly prohibit dis- of purposive sampling (Palinkas et al., 2015).
crimination only on the grounds of sex, disability, family status The study inclusion criteria for this qualitative study were as
and race but not sexual orientation (Yeo & Chu, 2018). Sexual follows: (1) MSM, (2) cis-­males, (3) aged 18 years or older, (4) cur-
minorities in Hong Kong have reported experiencing discrimina- rently using smartphone dating apps and (5) sexually active (defined
tion on the grounds of sexual orientation in areas such as employ- as having any sexual activities in the last 12 months) and (6) self-­
ment, education and access to services. Publicly funded schools reported HIV-­negative. Individuals who were unable to communi-
and different agencies with conservative Christian backgrounds cate in Cantonese were excluded.
often become sites where the human rights of sexual minori- Study recruitment posts were uploaded to social media plat-
ties are denied (Kwok, 2021). Additionally, under the influence forms, such as Instagram and Facebook. Non-­governmental organi-
of Confucianism, it has always been a traditional obligation of zations (NGOs) that target the MSM population in Hong Kong also
Chinese adults to bring offspring to the family (Wu et al., 2021). helped recruit participants. As the study addressed a socially and
Thus, homosexuality is widely rejected by the Chinese and is culturally sensitive topic in Asian contexts, snowball sampling was
considered a threat not only to the family but also to society as also adopted to facilitate participant recruitment.
a whole. As Chan (2008) argued, the inherently anti-­g ay rights
culture in Hong Kong stems from the primacy of Confucianism
aligned with Christianity. Whether such cultural background im- 2.4 | Data collection
pacts how local MSM react to sexual violence and access to social
support remains unclear. Therefore, there was a need to gain a Individual semi-­structured interviews were conducted from May
better understanding of the perceptions and experiences of sex- to June 2019. The interviews were divided into two parts. The first
ual violence among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. part obtained data on the participants' experiences of using dating
apps to form sexual relationships (Choi et al., 2021). The second part
focused on the participants' perceptions and experiences of sexual
2 | TH E S T U DY violence. The topics and interview questions were developed based
on an extensive literature review, together with consultations with
2.1 | Aims experienced frontline workers who were experts in providing sex-
ual health services for MSM in Hong Kong and a social work prac-
This study aimed to understand the perceptions and experiences of titioner who specialized in intimate partner violence. Open-­ended
sexual violence among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. questions focused on (1) study participants' perceptions of sexual
violence, (2) their experiences of sexual violence, (3) their reactions
and responses after experiencing sexual violence and (4) preven-
2.2 | Design tion strategies for sexual violence. The participants were first asked
‘What is your understanding of sexual violence?’. Afterwards, the
This study adopted a qualitative descriptive design with the- participants were briefed on the definition and given descriptions
matic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). It forms part of a larger of the types of sexual violence as the interview evolved. To obtain
mixed-­m ethod study that aimed to develop and evaluate the the participants' perceptions, we asked them what actions they con-
effectiveness of an interactive web-­b ased intervention in im- sider to be sexual violence and what factors increase the chance of
proving the sexual health of Chinese MSM who use smartphone sexual violence occurring in online and offline contexts. We also
dating apps (Choi et al., 2020). The overall study consisted of asked whether they thought they might encounter those activities
two phases. The first phase was a qualitative study, the current someday. To obtain data on the participants' experiences, we invited
study, which aimed to understand the perceptions and experi- them to share relevant sexual violence incidents of their own or their
ences of sexual violence among Chinese MSM who use dating acquaintances if they felt comfortable doing so. Lastly, to determine
apps in Hong Kong. The second phase of the study was a rand- their thoughts on sexual violence prevention, we asked them to de-
omized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-­ scribe what comes to mind when we mentioned the phrase ‘sexual
based intervention to improve sexual health. violence prevention’. We refined the details of the questions as the
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1388 CHOI et al.

TA B L E 1 Summary of participants' characteristics


proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The steps of analysis included
Age N (%) Dating Apps useda N (%) (1) familiarizing yourself with the data, (2) generating initial codes, (3)
Mean (standard 27.32 (5.64) Grindr 30 (96.8) searching for themes, (4) reviewing the themes and (5) defending and
deviation) naming themes. The internal homogeneity and external heterogene-
Education level Jack'd 27 (87.1) ity of the themes were considered during the analysis (Patton, 1990).
Secondary school 4 (12.9) Hornet 18 (58.1) The first and third authors with substantial sexual health re-
Post-­secondary 6 (19.4) Tinder 15 (48.4) search backgrounds discussed the issues related to the data analysis

Undergraduate or 21 (67.7) Coffee Meets Bagel 5 (16.1) process –­such as how the initial codes, subthemes and themes were
above generated and the meaning of the subthemes and themes –­ until
Type of sexual behaviours in the Apps/sites use experience consensus was achieved (Kwok et al., 2020). The data analysis was
past 12 monthsa conducted in the original language. The final themes and supporting
Anal sex 28 (90.3) 1 year or less 8 (25.8) quotes were translated into English by four Cantonese-­English bi-
Oral sex 27 (87.1) >1 year 23 (74.2) lingual speakers, using the forward–­backward translation approach
Masturbation 27 (87.1) (Kwok et al., 2020).
a
Participants could select more than one option.

2.7 | Rigour
interviews progressed to obtain more detailed information from the
study participants. Interviews were conducted in a private room To promote the trustworthiness of the study findings, we adopted
at the university or at NGOs that provide MSM support services the following strategies. First, to increase the accuracy of the
in Hong Kong and started with ice-­breaker interview questions to transcription, the data were transcribed verbatim by two individ-
facilitate building rapport with the participants. Each interview ses- ual transcribers who were not part of the investigation team. The
sion lasted from one to one-­and-­a-­half hours. Data collection was transcribers were briefed on the slang and terms used by the MSM
completed at the 31st interview, as no new meaningful findings community. The accuracy of the transcripts was checked by two
were identified, and information redundancy was achieved with 31 members of the research team who were not involved in the tran-
interviews. scription process. Any inconsistent contents were checked against
All individual interviews were coordinated by one researcher the recordings and field notes by the interviewer. Regarding the
(the third author and the project coordinator of the overall study) translation of the themes and quotes, four Cantonese-­English bi-
for data collection consistency, as she had extensive experience in lingual speakers were involved in the forward-­b ackground trans-
sexual health research and education. The interviews were audio-­ lation process to ensure the accuracy of the translation. Second,
recorded with the participants' consent. to enhance credibility, we explored each set of transcribed verba-
tim in depth, discussed the findings (such as codes, themes and
quotes) and compared them with each case to check for differ-
2.5 | Ethical considerations ences. We iteratively revised the data to reduce biased decisions
and idiosyncratic interpretations by the first and third authors.
The Institutional Review Board of the University of Hong Kong/ Peer debriefing with a qualitative researcher who was not part
Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (HKU/HA HKW IRB) of the research team was also conducted to validate the results.
reviewed and approved the study (Reference No: 18–­129). To ensure Third, to enhance the study's transferability, a detailed description
participation was voluntary, the study's aims and procedures were of the study settings, participant characteristics and the research
explained to each study participant before each interview. The par- process were reported (Korstjens & Moser, 2018). Finally, NVivo
ticipants were then asked to decide whether to continue their par- was used to assist in the managing, coding and analysis of data and
ticipation in the study and written consent was obtained from each to identify recurring themes (Kwok et al., 2020). The consolidated
study participant before the interviews were conducted. To promote criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was
autonomy, we respected the study participants' personal decisions used to guide the reporting of the study.
about what information to discuss in the interview; they could skip
any questions they did not want to answer.
3 | FI N D I N G S

2.6 | Data analysis A total of 31 Chinese MSM with an average age of 27 years (stand-
ard deviation: 5.64) who used dating apps shared their perceptions
The interview data were transcribed verbatim from interview record- and experience of sexual violence. Of the participants, 21 (67.7%)
ings by two individual transcribers who were not part of the investiga- had a bachelor's degree or above, and many used a range of dat-
tion team. The data were then analysed using the thematic analysis ing apps: 30 (96.8%) used Grindr, 27 (87.1%) used Jack'd, 18 (58.1%)
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CHOI et al. 1389

used Hornet and 15 (48.4%) used Tinder. Regarding sexual practices did not prefer to have sex at home because they lived with their fami-
with male partners over the last 12 months, 28 participants (90.3%) lies, while some participants were concerned about the LGBT friend-
had anal sex, 27 participants (87.1%) had oral sex and 27 participants liness of hotels in Hong Kong. Therefore, some participants could
(87.1%) had masturbated themselves. Table 1 shows the summary of choose only to have sex in the gay sauna. However, gay saunas were
participants' characteristics. identified as particularly risky, as they were often portrayed as a plat-
form for casual sex. At these saunas, people tend to assume that all
attendees are seeking sex in these gay cruising areas, and our partici-
3.1 | Theme 1: Different forms of sexual violence, pants reported attempts at non-­consensual sex.
from physical to virtual
He lifted me up, dragged me into the room and tried
The participants experienced various forms of sexual violence, in- to have sex with me. I told him I did not want to and I
cluding non-­consensual condom removal, forced chemsex, forced struggled to escape.
sexual encounters in offline settings such as a sauna and image-­ (Participant 027)
based sexual violence.
As most of the areas of gay saunas are devoid of light, tops can easily
take off condoms without the bottoms' knowledge. Many participants
3.1.1 | Stealthing reported personal or friends' experiences of being stealthed at saunas.

The participants expressed concerns about a penetrative partner Saunas are pretty dangerous. The rooms are often
(top) removing a condom during anal sex without the receptive sexual dark; you can hardly notice or feel if they have taken
partner's (bottom) knowledge or consent. The participants expressed off the condom. Many people have had this experi-
that the bottoms were more susceptible to being stealthed by the ence at saunas.
tops. Even if the tops wear a condom to start with, they can take it off (Participant 029)
anytime, and because of the sex position, it is difficult for a receptive
sexual partner to notice when they are being stealthed. Participant
009 recounted his experience of being stealthed during sex: 3.1.4 | Image-­based sexual violence

He agreed to wear a condom at the very beginning. In addition to physical forms of sexual violence, participants also re-
However, he took it off during sex. Bottoms are more ported that image-­based sexual violence emerged recently. For example,
susceptible to being victims because it is hard for bot- a sexual partner would take a video or photograph of another partner
toms to notice whether their partners remove a con- committing sexual acts without his consent. The participants would
dom during sex. then discover that this type of recording is quite common on social
media platforms, such as Tumblr and Twitter. In an interview, Participant
011 detailed his experience with non-­consensual recording during sex:
3.1.2 | Forced chemsex
I had sex with my partner whom I met on a dating app
The participants experienced forced sexual encounters and were even in a hotel room. I found that there was a phone and
forced to engage in chemsex. In addition to experiencing unpleasant the camera was facing the bed. When my partner was
feelings of being coerced, they were worried about the potential harm taking a shower, I checked the phone and found that
of chemsex, such as a drug overdose. Even though some participants it was recording.
insisted that they did not want to take drugs at the beginning of an
encounter, their partners eventually forced them to take them. The Some participants discovered that their nude pictures or sexually
participants expressed that the incidents were out of their control. explicit images were non-­consensually distributed to others by their
sexual partners. For instance, Participant 019 described his experience
I had no choice, indeed. I was naked. How could I of having nude photos of him shared by a sexual partner whom he met
escape? on a dating app:
(Participant 029)
Sadly, he distributed my pictures to other groups and
online platforms. He even sent the pictures to the
3.1.3 | Physical sexual violence in gay saunas Facebook account of the company where I worked.

The availability and types of meeting venues for sex influenced Participants had seen photoshopped versions of their photos cap-
whether a match via dating apps would be possible. Some participants tioned with misinformation on different online platforms. Sometimes,
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1390 CHOI et al.

the photos were used as proof of their gay identities, forcing them to might have contracted HIV/STIs. In addition, for those who were still in
come out to the public. Participant 017 reported seeing various photos the closet, the risk of becoming a person with HIV/STIs provoked wor-
online that had been sexually photoshopped: ries about whether they would be accepted by society and overcome
the double stigmas (being gay and HIV-­positive). Participants expressed
They superimposed your head onto another person's that MSM in Hong Kong still face a lot of discrimination in family, work-
body. Even if the photos were poorly edited, many place and healthcare systems. There is no anti-­discrimination ordinance
people believed them. on sexual orientation discrimination in Hong Kong, and the dispropor-
tionate rate of the HIV infection among MSM has engendered the in-
Similarly, Participant 008 recalled seeing people's photos on differ- tersection of stigma against HIV and homosexuality. Participant 014
ent online forums that were extracted from dating apps. He explained detailed his fear following a non-­consensual instance of condomless
that people reposted these photos and disclosed that the man was gay. anal sex with a risk of HIV infection:
The images, whether sexually explicit or not, were also often
used for sextortion, particularly to extort favours relating to rela- I realised that there was a high possibility of contract-
tionship maintenance. For instance, Participants 030 and 019 were ing HIV/STIs because he hinted he was HIV positive.
both victims of image-­based sexual violence. They reported being I was worried, nervous and even terrified. My fam-
threatened by their sexual partners that the images would be used ily did not know I was gay. If I contracted HIV, then I
to damage their reputations if they failed to remain in a sexual or would have to come out from a double closet –­being
romantic relationship with them. gay and being HIV positive.

He said, ‘If you don't fulfil my requests, I will send your


photos to your family or your workplace. I will tell them 3.2.3 | A destruction of reputation in the
you're gay and you love to have sex with teenagers’. gay community
(Participant 030)
When sexual violence takes the form of non-­consensual images, as
It happened after we had casual sex. He wanted to well as having one's intimate parts and sexual activities exposed to
develop a romantic relationship, but I refused. He the public, the comments and misinformation spread at the same
then created a fake social media account with my time can have disastrous consequences. Participant 030 shared his
photos and defamed me by saying that I have a bad concern over his reputation after knowing that his photos were dis-
personality and that I have contracted different STIs. tributed non-­consensually.
(Participant 019)
People added a lot of subjective comments and even
untrue information to the captions of the photos. Once
3.2 | Theme 2: Inner struggles with fears and worry these images were circulated without my control, they
changed and twisted how other people thought about
Subsequent to sexual violence, the participants reported experienc- me, leading people to misjudge me as a bad person.
ing distress over the incident of sexual violence itself and its poten-
tial consequences. In an interview, Participant 019 also reported being recognized as
notorious figures within the community ever since his photos were dis-
tributed online.
3.2.1 | Distress following an incident of
sexual violence Very often, when I exchange photos with others on
dating apps, I receive sarcastic messages, such as,
After being forced to engage in unwanted sexual activities, the par- ‘Oh, you are that person’, ‘Did you know you are really
ticipants expressed distress, fear and worry. They did not expect that “famous”’ and ‘I received your photos multiple times’.
they would be victims of sexual violence. Participant 007 expressed Some people even just blocked me after seeing my
that a guy sexually penetrated him without a condom and without photos. This makes me feel quite bad.
his consent. At that point, he felt extremely frightened and shocked.

3.2.4 | Discrimination and stigma in the


3.2.2 | Worry about HIV/STIs family and workplace

After being forced to engage in condomless sexual activities, the partic- Aside from spreading sexually explicit and non-­consensual images
ipants reported concerns about their physical health and whether they online, such information can also be maliciously disseminated to
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CHOI et al. 1391

one's family and workplace, exaggerating discrimination and stigma- not see the need to be concerned. For instance, Participant 020
tization in the family and workplace. One participant reported being compared his current lifestyle to when he lived in other countries
forced to come out in his private life and even lost his job. and expressed that there was no need to worry about safety in
Hong Kong:
To protect myself from discrimination and stigma
due to my sexual orientation, I had never disclosed Even when I was living in other countries, I did not
my sexual orientation to any of my friends or fam- worry about such things. Why should I be concerned
ily members. He sent my photos and information to when I am back in Hong Kong, which is a relatively
my brother's Facebook account. I was pissed off and safer place?
crapped my pants. My brother is a religious person, so
he was furious. He [the sex partner] also sent the im- Participant 016 mentioned in his interview that he found inci-
ages to my workplace, claiming that I had contracted dences of sexual violence to be very rare in Hong Kong and thus con-
HIV. I was requested to take a blood test. Eventually, sidered himself to be very safe.
my employer did not renew my contract.
(Participant 019)
3.3.2 | I can always fight back

3.3 | Theme 3: Low awareness and perceived Participants described confidence in their own ability to counteract
risk of sexual violence –­‘It has nothing to do with me’ violence, specifically physical force. Being in same-­sex relationships,
participants considered themselves to be equal in strength to their
The need to take precautions or preventive measures was not highly partners.
recognized among some study participants, especially those who
had not experienced sexual violence. Despite knowing that sexual I am less concerned, as my date is also male. Unless he
violence could also happen to MSM, some participants had a low drugs me, I don't see the possibility of failing to resist.
awareness of sexual violence and thought it was less likely to hap- I can always fight back.
pen to them. (Participant 024)

3.3.1 | It has nothing to do with me Mainly because I only date males, I assume that I will
not experience any violence during dates because we
Some of them denied the possibility of sexual violence, irrespec- share equal power and strength. It is meaningless to
tive of type, happening to themselves. They argued that the con- use force. I am strong enough to resist.
sequences were also harmful to the perpetrators and thought that (Participant 010)
no one would bother to engage in these behaviours. Some of these
participants also assumed that they were unlikely to be victims of Aside from reacting with force, participants suggested
violence. other means of acting against unwanted behaviours. For exam-
ple, Participant 024 suggested that they would leave the venue
I don't think such things would happen. It has nothing directly.
to do with me. If anyone dares to record or take pho-
tos secretly without my consent, they will ruin their People can resist things that they don't want to do.
own reputation in the community. If it [sexual violence or being forced by their date]
(Participant 009) happens, I can run out of the house. There are always
ways to escape.

I don't think anyone would take photos or videos


of me without my consent; even if they did, they 3.4 | Theme 4: Dilemma towards sexual
wouldn't put them online. I am not good looking at all; violence prevention
no one would want to see my images anyway.
(Participant 013) People react to sexual violence differently, but the experience is
hardly favourable. When participants were asked about sexual vio-
In many of the participants' eyes, Hong Kong is a safe place. lence prevention, they tended to focus on preventive measures on
They considered that the environment was sufficiently protected an individual level. They identified different coping strategies to
that many participants found sexual violence uncommon and did diminish their chances of being victimized or re-­victimized across
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1392 CHOI et al.

contexts. Nonetheless, some of the participants found it difficult to The participants also expressed that the criminal justice system in
avoid sexual violence. Hong Kong could not protect them. Participants who were victims
of image-­based sexual violence reported difficulties prosecuting
the perpetrator due to the limitations of the existing laws in Hong
3.4.1 | Picking a safer place to have sex Kong at that time. For instance, Participant 019 detailed his experi-
ence in attempting to report his cases to the police in an interview:
The physical venues for sexual encounters offer different levels of
safety against various forms of sexual violence. The participants I reported the issue to the police twice. The police
expressed that they would pick a place that they deemed safe to reviewed my case, but they did not find it to be a
have sex, such as gay saunas. Participant 028 pointed out several criminal offence, so there was nothing they could do
advantages of having sex in gay saunas. First, compared with private at the time. They recommended that I reach out to
venues, such as hotel rooms and a sexual partner's home, it was un- a lawyer and follow up on the situation from a civil
likely that cameras could be set up in saunas in advance. Second, it is dispute perspective.
easier to seek help or even escape in a sauna if they are coerced to (Participant 019)
have sex. Furthermore, in gay saunas, people could seek help from
other customers and staff members if necessary. Photographic equipment for clandestine photography can be diffi-
cult to identify. The drop in size and increase in popularity and acces-
sibility of this equipment in the general market have exacerbated this
3.4.2 | Thinking twice before sharing problem.
personal identities
Cameras can be very small nowadays and hidden in
Specific to the experience of image-­based sexual violence, many unknown places. I think it would be very difficult to
participants stated that they would change their original practices of prevent someone's intention to film me secretly.
sharing photos online, especially photos that were sexually explicit, (Participant 032)
and become more cautious about what photos they uploaded in
the future. The participants also expressed continued fear of being One participant also anticipated difficulties in rejecting or re-
found to be gay by outsiders or having their photos disseminated sisting sexual violence if it were to happen within a romantic rela-
without their consent. tionship. Explicitly, discrepancies in power and strength are likely
to impact the ability to resist violent acts in an offline context.
Sometimes, I feel reluctant to share sexual photos on
dating apps. I am worried that I might see them on If we were romantically attached, it would be rela-
Tumblr and Twitter later. tively harder to say ‘no’ to each other, especially if my
(Participant 017) partner has greater power in the relationship. It would
be very difficult to reject his requests.
Participant 018 wanted to reduce the possible harm caused by the (Participant 022)
non-­consensual distribution of his images. As such, he uses the same
photos for all online platforms to prevent excessive disclosure of his
private parts and personal information. 4 | DISCUSSION

I use the same set of photos for all online exchanges, This study explored the experiences and perceptions of sexual
so if someone were to circulate my images, there violence among Chinese MSM who use dating apps in Hong Kong.
would not be a lot of content and the harm would be The types of sexual violence experienced by the study participants
largely reduced. varied from physical to image-­based forms. The experiences and
(Participant 018) consequences of sexual violence were traumatizing, and the ef-
fects included fear of HIV/STIs, notoriety in the gay community, and
discrimination against and stigmatization by family members and
3.4.3 | Preventing sexual violence is not always easy workplaces. The study participants adopted different ways to pro-
tect themselves, such as picking safer places to have sex and altering
Despite understanding that being sexually abused is not the fault dating app use patterns. However, some participants expressed that
of the victims, some participants considered certain kinds of sexual it was difficult to avoid physical and image-­based forms of sexual
violence inevitable or difficult to avoid. The participants expressed violence. At the other extreme, some participants had a relatively
that stigmatization related to same-­sex behaviours and sexual vio- low awareness and perceived risk of sexual violence, as they thought
lence in Hong Kong hindered them from seeking help from others. their chances of becoming victims were low.
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CHOI et al. 1393

Some participants experienced stealthing and they were been infected with HIV through occupational exposure. On the
worried about contracting HIV/STIs. In fact, stealthing is quite other hand, obtaining PEP in private clinics is very expensive (Choi
common among MSM. Compared with heterosexual men, non-­ et al., 2021). Therefore, we highlight the need to enhance HIV pre-
heterosexual men are more likely to be the victims of stealthing ventive care in Hong Kong. According to O'Byrne et al. (2018), a
(Bonar et al., 2021). An epidemiological study in Melbourne re- nurse-­led PEP programme is recommended to care for MSM who
ported that 19% of MSM had experienced stealthing (Latimer are at high risk for HIV seroconversion.
et al., 2018). People's motivations to engage in stealthing are com- Some participants stated in the interviews that they were forced
plex (Brennan, 2017). One possible explanation is that stealthing to have chemsex. Under the influence of chemsex, people's cog-
has become ‘popular’ in adult sex culture, especially pornography nition changes (Wilkerson et al., 2021). It may be difficult for peo-
(Ahmad et al., 2020). We can also understand this phenomenon ple forced to engage in chemsex to refuse an unwanted sex act. A
from the perspective of the hegemonic power of masculinity predatory power dynamic can also take place in forced chemsex in
(Ebrahim, 2019). During anal intercourse between MSM, tops (i.e. which the “weakest” are targeted by the more powerful (Wilkerson
men who are penetrative during anal intercourse) tend to feel more et al., 2021). According to the power and control model of violence
dominant and may have stronger hegemonic masculine identities (Swan et al., 2017), forced chemsex is a tactic to reduce victims'
than bottoms (i.e., men who are receptive during anal intercourse). control over their own body. Perpetrators can therefore gain and
Bottoms often feel more submissive and vulnerable during anal maintain power and control over victims to subject them to sexual vi-
intercourse (Ravenhill & de Visser, 2018). It has also been sug- olence (Swan et al., 2017). It has been reported that non-­consensual
gested that some men practise stealthing with the belief that they sex and coercion are rising among people who engage in chemsex
have the right to ‘spread their seed’ because of sexual supremacy (Ward et al., 2017). A study in London claimed that under the in-
(Ebrahim, 2019; Ferrari et al., 2021). Studies among Chinese MSM fluence of chemsex, consent to have sex was difficult to establish
also proposed that some Chinese tops may have a more active and (Bourne et al., 2015). One participant in a qualitative study reported
dominant role. They may possess a ‘controlling tendency’ and an in- that he experienced sexual violence when he was using crystal meth
terest in violence (Lin, 2016; Zheng & Zheng, 2017; Zhou, 2019). On during sex (Gaspar et al., 2021).
the other hand, some Chinese bottoms are considered submissive Another notable finding was the paradoxical view towards the
and obedient. Therefore, tops might think that they have great con- safety of gay saunas. While some participants considered gay saunas
trol over bottoms (Lin, 2016; Zheng & Zheng, 2017; Zhou, 2019). to be a high-­risk area, others experienced sexual violence in gay sau-
However, both qualitative and quantitative studies about stealth- nas. Some even expressed that sexual violence, such as stealthing,
ing among Chinese MSM are lacking. Therefore, more studies are can easily happen in the gay sauna because the interiors of these
required to understand the phenomenon and healthcare needs of venues are dark, making it difficult to notice whether their sexual
victims. Further investigation is also needed to understand the in- partners are wearing condoms. By contrast, some participants pre-
tentions of people who practice stealthing. In particular, it is essen- ferred gay saunas to private spaces because they considered it more
tial to unpack the impacts of heteronormativity and patriarchy on difficult to set up a camera in saunas in advance. Therefore, having
sexual violence among Chinese MSM. This information is import- sex in the sauna could protect them from being video-­recorded
ant to nurses and other public health practitioners in developing non-­consensually. Also, compared with a private space, it is easier
educational interventions to stop people from committing acts of to escape from a sauna. The conflicting views about the safety of
sexual violence as well as to protect people from sexual violence. gay saunas are not unique to our study. A qualitative study in the
Stealthing has potentially serious consequences, such as emo- UK found that some interviewees perceived the gay sauna to be a
tional distress, anger and fear of STIs (Ebrahim, 2019; Latimer risky environment due to the availability of multiple sexual partners
et al., 2018). In fact, men who engage in stealthing are 30% more and the high prevalence of condomless sex, while some expressed
likely to be diagnosed with an STI (Feldstein Ewing & Bryan, 2020), that the gay sauna is a space for safer sex because of the availability
which might increase the risk of STI transmission to their partners. of condoms and the visibility of the safer sex ‘warnings’ pervasive
Stealthing appeared in a court case in the UK in which a man living across sauna (Jaspal & Papaloukas, 2021). In fact, gay saunas are a
with HIV was charged with deliberately infecting partners he had valuable venue where MSM can gather, meet other men and engage
met through Grindr (Albury et al., 2020). Given the significant ad- in a variety of sexual activities (Holmes et al., 2007; Race, 2015). Gay
verse psychological and physical consequences of sexual violence, saunas are also spaces of convenience, allowing MSM to disentan-
such as a stealthing, victims should receive holistic care as soon gle themselves easily for further engagement should they so desire
as possible to mitigate psychological distress and the risk of HIV/ (Race, 2015). Whether it is safe or not depends on the people who
STIs. However, there are still unmet care needs for MSM in Hong visit it (Holmes et al., 2007). Nonetheless, coupled with the previous
Kong. It is difficult for victims who have been stealthed to obtain study by Jaspal and Papaloukas (2021), sexual violence prevention
HIV post-­exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Although PEP is effective in should be enhanced in gay saunas, in addition to routine sexual health
preventing HIV infection, its accessibility is limited in Hong Kong promotion, such as consistent condom use and rapid HIV testing.
(Choi et al., 2021). On the one hand, public hospitals in Hong Kong In addition to physical sexual violence, the participants also
reserve PEP mainly for healthcare professionals who might have reported experiencing image-­b ased sexual violence. Similar to
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1394 CHOI et al.

those found by Henry et al. (2019), the participants reported just accepted it. This perception echoes previous studies that ar-
being photoshopped into sexual images unwillingly, had their ex- gued that MSM ‘normalize’ sexual coercion (Gaspar et al., 2021;
plicit images distributed without consent and received threats McKie et al., 2020). The sexual aggression of men as perpetra-
about distributing their images. Advances in communication tors is also often accepted and tolerated in rape cultures (Keller
technologies have transformed and expanded the possibilities et al., 2018; Phipps et al., 2018; Sills et al., 2016). The presump-
for perpetrating sexual abuse, and the proliferation of smart- tion that MSM always agree to sexual activities also creates
phones in particular has facilitated image-­b ased sexual violence pressure for individuals to feel obligated to engage in any sexual
(McGlynn & Rackley, 2017). There is also evidence that men, in interactions even when feeling uncomfortable (Dietzel, 2021;
particular, frequently engage in this form of sexual behaviour Klesse, 2016). However, as MSM face difficulties convincing oth-
(Oswald et al., 2020). Another recent study found that nearly ers that they are the victim of sexual violence due to male rape
30% of MSM experienced some image-­b ased sexual abuse, and myths (Braun et al., 2009; Gavey, 2018), they may choose to re-
19% had experienced being threatened with the distribution main silent (Mortimer et al., 2019).
of nude pictures to others (Powell et al., 2020). Another study Stigmatization and discrimination against homosexuality in
reported that MSM who use dating apps are more than twice Chinese contexts also hinder MSM from seeking help when they
as likely as the general population to experience image-­b ased experience sexual violence, such as stealthing, forced chemsex and
sexual violence (Dietzel, 2022). The negative impacts and harm image-­b ased sexual violence. The concept of ‘face’ has a tremen-
of image-­b ased sexual violence are significant and profound dous influence on the disclosure of socially undesirable behaviours
because they represent an infringement on sexual autonomy, such as same sex behaviours and sexual violence in Chinese cul-
privacy and dignity, with potential consequences that include ture (Bouhours & Broadhurst, 2015; Kwok & Wu, 2015). ‘Face’
psychological distress and negative impacts on interpersonal re- can be viewed as ‘dignity’, ‘respect’ and ‘honour’. The avoidance
lationships (McGlynn & Rackley, 2017). Furthermore, the distri- of ‘face-­losing situations’ has shaped the behaviours of Chinese
bution of sexually explicit images can have a long-­t erm negative people, especially when socially undesirable situations are in-
impact on victims, who often have to live with the fear that their volved (Chan, 2012). MSM's disclosure of their sexual violence
pictures will resurface at a later time, even months or years later experience to others, such as family members and health profes-
(Johansen et al., 2019; Van Ouytsel et al., 2021). The threat of re- sionals, might induce a sense of ‘losing face’ (Chan, 2012). Several
distribution has also been used for the purposes of intimidation, studies have shown that stigma causes MSM to defer health
extortion and harassment (Karaian, 2016). Notably, the reactions service utilization for HIV-­related health concerns or prevention
of family members and employers to the victims of image-­b ased (Mo et al., 2018), and an integrative review reported that sexual
sexual violence found in the present study were unpalatable, minority people experienced a nexus of exclusion and oppressive
which further traumatized the victims. social norms when they received nursing services (Nhamo-­Murire
The perceptions of sexual violence are diverse. Some study par- & Macleod, 2018). A recent study in Brazil found that MSM en-
ticipants had low awareness and perceived risk of sexual violence, countered unfavourable experiences when they wanted to obtain
especially among those who had never experienced any kind of PEP (Ferrari et al., 2021). The nurses were judgmental and disre-
sexual violence. They thought they were unlikely to experience any spectful because of their sexual orientation (Ferrari et al., 2021). A
forms of sexual violence and that even if they were to occur, they study in Hong Kong also found that sexual minorities experienced
could resist. Their responses correspond to the ‘male rape myths’, discrimination when accessing services, including help from social
referring to the suggestions by previous researchers that there is worker and counsellors (Suen et al., 2018). Therefore, MSM in
a myth and an assumption that men cannot be the victims of sex- Hong Kong might be reluctant to seek help when they experience
ual violence (Walfield, 2021). Rape culture has heteronormatively sexual violence.
conceptualized that sexual violence only occurs between men
and women and that men are always the perpetrator (Buchwald
et al., 1993; Gretgrix & Farmer, 2022). Scholars have noted that rape 4.1 | Limitations
myths include the idea that men cannot be raped and that ‘real’ men
can defend themselves against rape (Walfield, 2021). These male This study had some limitations. First, our findings might not be en-
rape myths are related to gender norms and perceptions of male tirely applicable to all MSM in Chinese populations in Hong Kong.
sexuality (Turchik & Edwards, 2012). Further, the assumption that Dating app users was one of the inclusion criteria. However, previ-
sex is a necessity among men has caused MSM to dismiss or trivi- ous studies have reported that psychosocial attributes and sexual
alize the experience of being sexually abused (Hollway et al., 2003). behaviours differ between users and non-­users; thus, it is plausible
Therefore, some MSM, especially those who have not experienced that non-­users have different experiences and perceptions of sexual
any forms of sexual violence before, might not recognize themselves violence. Second, the perceptions and experiences revealed in this
as a potential target of sexual violence. study were culturally specific, which may affect the transferability
Some participants, especially the victims of sexual violence, of the findings and should be considered when applying them to
expressed that it is not easy to avoid sexual violence and so they non-­Chinese contexts. Nonetheless, the current study was one of
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CHOI et al. 1395

the few sources of information on the perceptions and experiences notoriety within the gay community and discrimination and stig-
of sexual violence among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. Third, we matization within the family and workplace. To lower the risk of
did not further explore participants' perceptions and experiences of sexual violence, the participants were cautious about the venue
reporting sexual violence incidents to authorities such as the police. in which to have sex and the habit of sharing photos. However,
Additional qualitative studies are therefore needed to deepen our some participants had low awareness and perceived risk of sexual
understanding of these aspects. violence. Our study provides preliminary qualitative data about
sexual violence among Chinese MSM in Hong Kong. We highlight
the need for more empirical research to understand this under-
4.2 | Implications studied area and recommend developing tailored primary, second-
ary and tertiary sexual violence prevention programmes for MSM.
Nurses play a vital role in preventing sexual violence (Long, 2014). Further exploration on the intersectionality between different
Regarding clinical nursing, nurses should be more aware of pos- identities of MSM, cultural settings and experience of sexual vio-
sible cases of sexual violence, particularly in primary care, pub- lence should also be conducted.
lic health and emergency care settings. When interacting with
MSM, despite the heavy influence of rape culture, nurses should AU T H O R C O N T R I B U T I O N S
acknowledge the possibility of sexual violence occurring among Edmond P. H. Choi was the principle investigator of the project. He
MSM. Huge assumptions are being made about how an incident was also responsible for data analysis and manuscript writing (whole
of sexual violence should occur and what a victim should look like. manuscript). Jojo Y. Y. Kwok was responsible for data analysis, inter-
Therefore, nurses need to be more confident about and open to pretation of study findings and manuscript writing (part of the result
talking about sexual violence with male clients and listening to section). Kitty W. Y. Choi was responsible for data collection, data
their concerns. A clinical pathway that streamlines sexual abuse analysis and manuscript writing (part of the result section). Jung Jae
screening, STI control, the provision of PEP, acute treatments and Lee provided support and advice on qualitative analysis and study
rehabilitation should be developed and implemented. Regarding methodology. Kris Y. W. Lok provided support on English language
nursing research, more studies are needed to understand the ex- editing and interpretation of study findings. Janet Y. H. Wong pro-
periences and care needs of male victims of sexual violence, and vided advice on intimate partner violence and support on interpreta-
more clinical trials are needed to evaluate what nursing interven- tion of study findings. Daniel Y. T. Fong, Eric Y. F. Wan and William
tions are effective in preventing sexual violence among MSM C. W. Wong provided supports on study design and implementation.
(primary prevention), screening for sexual violence (secondary Eric P. F. Chow provided expert advice on sexual health, study design
prevention) and diminishing the adverse impacts among men sur- and interpretation of study findings. All authors have agreed on the
vivors of sexual abuse (tertiary prevention). Finally, from the per- final version and meet at least one of the following criteria (recom-
spective of nursing education, nurses must be equipped with the mended by the ICMJE*): (1) substantial contributions to conception
knowledge and skills needed to provide culturally sensitive and and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data;
appropriate care to sexual minorities (Yingling et al., 2017). When (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellec-
conducting community education, nurses should recognize the va- tual content.
riety in types of sexual violence and bear in mind that unwanted
sexual acts can occur in both online and offline interactions among AC K N OW L E D G E M E N T S
MSM. Furthermore, given the possibility for MSM to be both the We would like to thank Mr. L. H. Leung and Mr. K. L. Lee from AIDS
perpetrator and victim of sexual violence, discussions should not Concern, Hong Kong for the help with development of the semi-­
only aim at how one could protect them but also emphasize the structured guide and participant recruitment.
importance of respecting and communicating consent for sexual
activities across different contexts. Finally, a study found that F U N D I N G I N FO R M AT I O N
nursing students had negative attitudes towards homosexuality, The study was funded by Early Career Scheme, Research Grants
highlighting the need for educational awareness interventions to Council, Hong Kong (reference number: 27607518). EPFC is sup-
increase acceptance of sexual minorities among nursing and medi- ported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research
cal students (Ng et al., 2015). Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leadership Investigator Grant
(GNT1172873).

5 | CO N C LU S I O N C O N FL I C T O F I N T E R E S T
No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.
This study was one of the first to explore the experiences and
perceptions of sexual violence among Chinese MSM. Physical and DATA AVA I L A B I L I T Y S TAT E M E N T
image-­b ased forms of sexual violence were identified, which led The data that support the findings of this study are available from
to participants experiencing psychological distress, fear of HIV, the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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1396 CHOI et al.

ORCID Choi, E. P. H., Chow, E. P. F., Wan, E. Y. F., Wong, W. C. W., Wong, J. Y. H.,
Edmond Pui Hang Choi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9062-3540 & Fong, D. Y. T. (2020). The safe use of dating applications among
men who have sex with men: A study protocol for a randomised
Jojo Yan Yan Kwok https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7444-6935
controlled trial to evaluate an interactive web-­based intervention
Jung Jae Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9704-2116 to reduce risky sexual behaviours. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–­7.
Kris Yuet Wan Lok https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3227-0799 Choi, E. P. H., Wong, J. Y. H., & Fong, D. Y. T. (2018). An emerging risk
Janet Yuen Ha Wong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3000-4577 factor of sexual abuse: The use of smartphone dating applications.
Sexual Abuse, 30(4), 343–­366.
Daniel Yee Tak Fong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7365-9146
Choi, K. W. Y., Choi, E. P. H., Chow, E. P., Wan, E. Y. F., Wong, W. C. W.,
Eric Yuk Fai Wan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6275-1147 Wong, J. Y., & Fong, D. Y. (2021). The experience of using dating
William Chi Wai Wong https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-4055 applications for sexual hook-­ups: A qualitative exploration among
Eric Pui Fung Chow https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1766-0657 HIV-­negative men who have sex with men in Hong Kong. The
Journal of Sex Research, 58(6), 785–­794.
Dame, J., Oliffe, J. L., Hill, N., Carrier, L., & Evans-­Amalu, K. (2020). Sexual
T WITTER violence among men who have sex with men and two-­spirit peo-
Edmond Pui Hang Choi @edmondchoihku ples: A scoping review. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality,
29(2), 240–­248.
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