Risk Reconsidered: Insights from a Data Saturation Analysis of Sexual Health Research Amongst Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Strategic Insights -

A new study on sexuality has shed light on how risk is conceptualized in research related to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men during a period of major biomedical change. The study, conducted by researchers from Utrecht University, examined studies published between 2015 and 2020 in high-income countries in the Global North. The researchers used a novel saturation-based approach to determine when no new implicit or explicit conceptualizations of risk were evident, finding hundreds of distinct implicit and explicit conceptualizations of risk across included studies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified 722 instances of the word "risk" across included studies, highlighting the pervasive use of the term in the sexual health literature.
  • The researchers grouped the conceptualizations of risk into five interconnected dimensions: health outcomes, biomedical factors, behavioural factors, interpersonal factors, and individual factors.
  • The study found that the use of "risk" in the sexual health literature may hinder clear communication between researchers, clinicians, and service users.
  • The researchers called for the use of more precise language in future research, citing the need for clear and consistent definitions of "risk".
  • The study included data from 24 papers, selected through a systematic search across Medline (OVID), CINAHL, and Scopus.
  • The researchers used a saturation-based approach to determine when no new conceptualizations of risk were evident, with ten initial papers reviewed and sets of three reviewed until saturation was reached.
  • The study examined studies published and/or with data collected between 2015 and 2020, from high-income countries in the Global North.

Statistics:

  • 722 instances of the word "risk" appeared across included studies.
  • The study identified hundreds of distinct implicit and explicit conceptualizations of risk.
  • 23 studies were included in the analysis, with data from 24 papers.

Sources:

  • "Risk reconsidered: insights from a data saturation analysis of sexual health research amongst gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men." Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2025:1-12.
  • National Library of Medicine (NLM) citation: Field DJ, Dixon D, Comer DJ, Daas CD, de Wit J. Risk reconsidered: insights from a data saturation analysis of sexual health research amongst gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2025:1-12.
  • Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, November 1, 2025, p 586.