Xiaozhao Y. Yang, Brian Kelly & Tingzhong Yang (2020) Peer Association and Routine Activities in Sex Worker Patronage among Male Migrant Workers, Deviant Behavior, DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2020.1834339
Studies of people who buy sex often focus on psychological and personality factors with less attention paid to the role of social contexts. This study integrates the two lines of inquiry, routine activity theory and peer deviance, to examine the social process of paying for sex. We argue that deviant peer association may shape buying sex due to peers’ role in shifts in the three components of routine activity theory: motivation, targets, and lack of guardians. With rich information on sexual behaviors from the China Migrant Sexual Health Survey (n = 1,521), we conducted a series of regressions and structural equation models on commercial sex behaviors among male migrants. Our findings demonstrate that having more peers engaged in deviance is significantly associated with buying sex; the three routine activity components are also significantly associated with buying sex; the peer effect on buying sex is significantly (39% of the variance) mediated by routine activities. These results help understand the role of routine activities in mediating peer association and buying sex, and also contributes to the literature of sex work on the less-studied population of sex work clients in China. Theoretically, the results provide evidence for the role of peers in shaping routine activities.
| peer_association_and_routine_activities_in_sex_worker_patronage_among_male_migrant_workers.pdf |
Xiaozhao Y. Yang & Tingzhong Yang (2020): Pathways to Buying Sex among Migrant Labors: The Mediatory Role of Family Bonds and Peer Deviance on Social Network Homogeneity, The Sociological Quarterly, doi: 10.1080/00380253.2019.1711254
Family bonds and deviant peers constitute two important competing forces of socialization in migrants’ social life. This study furthers the theory of family-peer relationship by arguing that migrants’ social network homogeneity shapes the development of family bonds and peer deviance and is ultimately associated with increased likelihood of sexual risk behaviors. Applying regression techniques and structural equation modeling with bootstrapped estimates to survey data collected in 2011 among male Chinese migrant labors, this study found that 1) network homogeneity in terms of homeplace and occupation is associated with sexual risk behaviors, and 2) at least half portion of such association is significantly mediated by family bonds and peer deviance.
| pathways_to_buying_sex_among_migrant_labors-min.pdf |
XY Yang, T Yang (2019): Nativity Homogeneity in Social Networks and Prostitution Patronage Among Male Migrant Laborers, AIDS & Behavior 23: 1339
Previous studies have repeatedly found the association between network homogeneity based on native-place and sexual risk behaviors among migrants. However, it remains unclear why such a simple numerical property of network composition can be correlated with a sexual risk behavior. Using a dataset (n = 1591) with detailed information on the sexual behaviors among male migrant laborers in the two Chinese provinces with the highest migrant inflows, we confirmed network homogeneity is significantly associated with prostitution patronage. With structural equation modeling, we further found that half of network homogeneity’s impact on prostitution patronage is mediated by three factors: peer deviance, family bonds, and hedonistic subcultural beliefs. In addition, network homogeneity’s association with hedonistic subcultural beliefs is fully mediated by peer deviance. Although the nativity homogeneity in social networks is still associated with prostitution patronage, more proximate psycho-social factors are found responsible for the network effect. Health policies seeking to integrate migrant laborers, removing the policy barriers against family bonds, and providing alternative sources of social support are highly promising for reducing sexual risk behavior among this population.
XY Yang, BC Kelly, T Yang (2016): Together we have fun: native-place network and sexual risk behaviors among Chinese male rural-urban migrants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 38(4), 559-575
Some scholars argue that the maintenance of social networks contributes to the lower prevalence of deviant behaviours and fewer adverse health effects among migrants. But others suggest that if migrants are embedded in homogeneous networks, such networks may enable the formation of a deviant subculture that promotes risk taking. Facing this dilemma, the present study investigates how native-place networks influence sexual risk behaviours (SRBs), specifically the pursuit of commercial sex and condomless sex with sex workers, for male rural-urban migrants. Using a multi-stage sample of 1,591 male rural-urban migrants from two major migrant-influx cities within China, we assessed migrants’ general friend network ties and native place networks (townsmen in migrants’ local networks) and tested their associations with SRBs. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicate that native-place network ties are associated with paying for sex (OR = 1.33, p < 0.001) and condomless sex with sex workers (OR = 1.33, p < 0.001), while general friendship network ties reduce such risks (OR = 0.74, p < 0.001; OR = 0.84, p < 0.01) even after controlling for demographic background, housing conditions, length of stay, health beliefs and behaviours, and spousal companionship. Our findings suggest that native-place networks among Chinese male rural-urban migrants are associated with SRBs because homogenous networks may serve as a platform for the emergence of a deviant subculture that promotes risk behaviours.
A Virtual Abstract of this paper is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wg20I6j8XQ
A Virtual Abstract of this paper is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wg20I6j8XQ
| together_we_have_fun.pdf |
Yang, X. Y. (2016). Is Social Status Related to Internet Pornography Use? Evidence from the Early 2000s in the United States. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(4), 997-1009.
While most studies on Internet pornography focus on individual’s psychological characteristics, few have explored how social status itself is associated with Internet pornography use. As the Internet is becoming increasingly prevalent, online behaviors may have started to reflect the inequalities of the offline world. This study tested whether lower social status was associated with fewer sexual intercourse opportunities, and whether this led to higher likelihood of using Internet pornography as an alternative means of sexual release. To test the theory, I used the nationally representative sample of the General Social Survey of the U.S. between 2000 and 2004, with missing data handled by chained multiple imputation. The analyses found that lower income, longer working length, being unemployed, or a laborer in the social class strata were associated with fewer sexual intercourse opportunities as measured by three variables: marital status, the number of sex partners, and sex frequency. Lower income, less education, and longer working length were also associated with higher odds of using Internet pornography in the past 30 days, but only income was partially mediated by marital status. Social status was associated with Internet pornography use and sexual intercourse opportunities independently. The comparison of Internet pornography with the traditional X-rated movie found the unique features of Internet pornography use absent for X-rated movie.
| is_social_status_related_to_internet_pornography_use.pdf |
Yang, T., Cottrell, R. R., Yang, X., & Liu, J. (2012). Commercial Sex Worker Use Among Male Chinese Rural-Urban Migrants. American Journal of Health Behavior, 36(1), 116-123.
Objective: To explore HIV/AIDS sexual risk behaviors and specifically the use of commercial sex workers among Chinese male rural-urban migrants. Methods: The study design is loosely based on diffusion of innovation theory and examines the hedonistic tendencies of this group. Survey data were collected from male rural to urban migrants by an anonymous questionnaire in 2 Chinese cities. Results: A total of 1595 migrant workers were included in this study. At the time of this study, 27.6% had used commercial sex workers, and 79.9% of those did so for the first time after moving to the cities. Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions to reduce use of commercial sex workers should be implemented before or as soon as possible after rural urban males move to urban environments.
| commercial_sex_worker_use.pdf |
