Understanding risky sexual behavior online and in person
Innovative approaches to measuring and identifying risky sexual behaviors
This project creates a detailed questionnaire to find how common different forms of trading sex (online and in person) and related risks are among adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312745 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will adapt a detailed, multi-item questionnaire they developed to measure sex trading for use with the general population. They will use surveys and interviews to capture different types of sex trading (virtual vs. in-person), reasons (economic need, substances), types of compensation, and associated risks like unprotected sex or victimization. The team will validate the measure across diverse adult samples and analyze what factors increase risk or offer protection. Results will be used to estimate how common these behaviors are and to inform prevention and support strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults age 18 and older who have exchanged sexual activity or sexual content for money, goods, or substances, or who have experienced related risks, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People under 18 or those who have never engaged in sex trading and are not at risk may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help public health programs better target prevention, harm-reduction, and support services for people engaging in sex trading.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research often used a single question and missed many behaviors, but the team's multi-item measure validated in university samples suggests this more detailed approach can reveal higher and more nuanced prevalence.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gerassi, Lara — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Gerassi, Lara
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.