(Toronto, Ontario) Gay men who are not considered sexually desirable are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. They may also develop psychological problems as a consequence of feeling undesirable, the study said.

Adam Isaiah Green, Assistant Professor of Sociology at U of T, interviewed dozens of gay men in Toronto to determine what qualities made some men more sexually desirable than others, and what the consequences of being undesirable might be on mental and physical health.

The study appears in the December issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

“I found that young, white, middle-class men are considered much more sexually desirable than men who are racial minorities, over 40 and poor,” Green said.

“I also learned that for gay men, being considered sexually undesirable can have serious health consequences ranging from psychological issues to risky sexual behavior.”

The study – among the first to examine the link between sex and mental health – found that undesirable gay men face stigmatization, avoidance and outright rejection, which can lead to depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse.

It also highlighted cases in which undesirable gay men will forego safe-sex discussion and, in some cases, condom use, in the context of sex with a more attractive partner.

“We tend to devalue sexual life as something that is extracurricular and frivolous, but this research shows a significant link between sexual desirability and health,” said Green.

“Men with low levels of ‘erotic capital’ are systematically marginalized, which can take a real toll both physically and psychologically.”