Social support, psychological vulnerability, and HIV risk among African American men who have sex with men

Saleh, Lena; Berg, Jacob J. van den; Chambers, Christopher S.; Operario, Don

doi:10.1080/08870446.2015.1120301

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…In addition, perceived social support significantly moderates the relationships between mental health needs and HIV risk behaviors for males, where the relationship between mental health status and HIV risk behaviors is the strongest among males reporting the lowest level of social support, and the weakest among males reporting the highest level of social support. These findings lend support to previous literature in that, when faced with limited social support, males who are psychologically vulnerable may engage in HIV risk behaviors in order to obtain immediate physical intimacy or emotional gratification [64]. Traditional masculine gender roles, such as those emphasizing achievement, autonomy, and emotional control, can not only diminish males’ perception of their mental health needs and inhibit help-seeking behaviors and social support, but also increase risk-taking behaviors [65, 66].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Social support, mental health needs, and HIV risk behaviors: a gender-specific, correlation study

2019

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Background The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to threaten the health and wellbeing of millions in the United States and worldwide. Syndemic theory suggests that HIV/AIDS can cooccur with other afflictions. As close to 20% of US adults live with a mental health condition, it is critical to understand the correlation between HIV risk behaviors and mental health needs, as well as protective factors such as social support in intervening the association between mental distress and HIV risk behaviors. Furthermore, as past research has shown mixed results concerning the function of social support on HIV risks by gender, it is important to conduct a gender-specific analysis. Methods To assess the relationship between mental health needs, social support, and HIV risk behaviors, and to assess if social support can be a buffer, weakening the effect of mental health needs on HIV risk, in 2018, we analyzed representative, cross-sectional data from 2016 BRFSS collected from 33,705 individuals from four states in the United States, stratified by gender. Weighted logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, race, marital status, education, and annual income, assessed the correlation between mental health needs, social support, and HIV risk behaviors. Furthermore, interaction analyses were performed to see if social support modifies the slope of mental health needs as a function of HIV risk behaviors. Results For both genders, the odds of participating in HIV risk behaviors increase with mental health needs and decrease with the level of social support. Furthermore, social support mitigates the association between mental health needs and HIV risk behavior involvement for males, as males receiving high level of social support have least odds of HIV risk behaviors relative to males receiving low level of social support. Notably, for females, social support does not serve as a buffer against HIV risk behaviors when their mental health needs increase. Conclusion The study contributes to the knowledge base of HIV prevention and highlights the important role of mental health and social support against HIV risk behaviors when developing gender-specific prevention strategies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Social support, mental health needs, and HIV risk behaviors: a gender-specific, correlation study

2019

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“…In Mexico, cultural norms of homophobia and machismo often inhibit MSM from being able to “come out” and positively experience their sexual identity [74]. This can cause psychological distress among MSM, resulting in withdrawal from social support networks (e.g., family and friends) [75, 76], which can impact their ability to access culturally competent healthcare [41, 74, 77]. As such, community-level programs which reduce negative social attitudes towards MSM in combination with counseling interventions to help MSM identify supportive social network members may be critical to PrEP use and adherence among MSM in Tijuana.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis use among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Tijuana, Mexico: A latent class analysis

et al. 2019

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Background Given the slow uptake of PrEP among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income countries, efforts to roll-out PrEP in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) should address barriers to PrEP use to facilitate its more rapid uptake. To inform PrEP programs in LMIC, we examined patterns of perceived barriers to PrEP use among HIV-negative MSM in Tijuana, Mexico. Methods From 03/2016-09/2017, 364 MSM completed interviewer-administered surveys assessing perceived barriers to PrEP use across 4 domains: PrEP attribute, individual, interpersonal, and structural. Latent class analysis was performed to identify distinct classes with respect to perceived barriers to PrEP use. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with class membership. Results We identified three classes characterized by (1) high levels of perceived barriers across domains (12%), (2) low levels of perceived barriers across domains (43%), and (3) perceived PrEP attribute barriers (i.e., side-effects and cost) (45%). Membership in the high level of perceived barriers class (vs. the low level of perceived barriers class) was positively associated with having a history of incarceration (AOR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.04, 5.73) and negatively associated with more social support (AOR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.00). Membership in the perceived PrEP attribute barriers class was positively associated with having seen a healthcare provider in the past year (AOR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.41, 5.45) and negatively associated with having any HIV-positive or status unknown partners (AOR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.01). Conclusions Since most participants were in either the low level of perceived barriers class or the perceived PrEP attribute barriers class, future PrEP uptake may be high among MSM in Tijuana. However, these findings suggest that achieving sufficient PrEP uptake and adherence among MSM in Tijuana may require a range of comprehensive HIV prevention interventions.

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“…Also, incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing can decrease sexual risk behaviors and substance use, while also helping to increase knowledge and skills that can lead to safer sex (Melendez-Torres & Bonell, 2014; Parsons, Lelutiu-Weinberger, Botsko, & Golub, 2014). Interventions should address the isolation and vulnerability that can lead individuals into risky sexual encounters (Saleh, van den Berg, Chambers, & Operario, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Relationship of Sex Risk Behaviors and Substance Use Severity Among Men in Substance Use Treatment

Newville

Sorensen

Hatch‐Maillette

et al. 2017

The Journal of Sex Research

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Sex risk behaviors and substance use are intertwined. Many men continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors even when enrolled in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. We hypothesized that changes in sex risk behaviors would coincide with changes in drug/alcohol use severity among men in SUD treatment. During an HIV risk-reduction trial, men in methadone maintenance and outpatient drug-free treatment (N = 359) completed assessments at baseline and six months after. We assessed changes in sex risk and substance use severity, using the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite), controlling for treatment condition. In multinomial logistic regressions, decreased alcohol severity was significantly associated with decreases in reported sex partners, and increased alcohol severity was significantly associated with increases in reported sex partners. Increasing drug use severity was significantly associated with maintaining and initiating sex with a high-risk partner, while decreasing alcohol use severity was significantly associated with discontinuing sex under the influence. However, changes in drug/alcohol use severity were not associated with changes in unprotected sex. Substance use reductions may decrease HIV risk behaviors among male substance users. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating interventions in SUD treatment settings that address the intersection of sex risk behaviors and substance use.

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Social support, psychological vulnerability, and HIV risk among African American men who have sex with men

Cited by 32 publications

References 46 publications

Social support, mental health needs, and HIV risk behaviors: a gender-specific, correlation study

Social support, mental health needs, and HIV risk behaviors: a gender-specific, correlation study

Perceived barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis use among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Tijuana, Mexico: A latent class analysis

Temporal Relationship of Sex Risk Behaviors and Substance Use Severity Among Men in Substance Use Treatment

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