The Contribution of Social Media to Body Dissatisfaction, Eating Disorder Symptoms, and Anabolic Steroid Use Among Sexual Minority Men

Sexual assault victimization and eating disorder rates are high among college populations and have significant psychological, physiological, and social outcomes. Previous research has found a positive relationship between experiences of sexual assault and eating disorder symptoms; however, these analyses have primarily focused on female students. Using data from the 2017-2018 Healthy Minds Study, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between experiencing a sexual assault within the previous 12 months and screening positive for an eating disorder among cisgender college-enrolled men. It was hypothesized that college-enrolled men who report experiencing a sexual assault within the previous 12 months would be more likely to screen positive for an eating disorder. Analyses were conducted using a sample of 14,964 cisgender college-enrolled men. Among the sample, nearly 4% reported a sexual assault within the previous 12 months and nearly 16% screened positive for an eating disorder. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that college-enrolled men who reported experiencing a sexual assault in the previous 12 months, compared to those who did not, had significantly greater odds of screening positive for an eating disorder (OR = 1.40, p < .01). Analyses also indicated that college-enrolled men who identified as gay, queer, questioning, or other sexual orientation and reported experiencing a sexual assault in the previous 12 months had greater odds of screening positive for an eating disorder (OR = 2.50, p < .001) compared to their heterosexual peers who did not experience a sexual assault in the previous 12 months. These results indicate that eating disorders may be a negative outcome among college-enrolled men who have experienced a sexual assault, particularly among sexual minority men. Thus, mental health professionals need to be adequately prepared to treat the underserved population of men who experience an eating disorder and who have experienced sexual assault.

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Differential item functioning analysis for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire among heterosexual and sexual minority men

Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity ◽

10.1007/s40519-020-01035-x ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph M. Donahue ◽

Melissa Simone ◽

Christina Scharmer ◽

Lisa M. Anderson ◽

Drew Anderson

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorder ◽

Differential Item Functioning ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Eating Disorder Examination ◽

Item Functioning ◽

Differential Item Functioning Analysis ◽

Minority Men

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Appearance-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and suicidality among sexual minority men

Body Image ◽

10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.05.002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 289-294

Author(s):

William Grunewald ◽

Jerel P. Calzo ◽

Tiffany A. Brown ◽

Jamie-Lee Pennesi ◽

Hee-Jin Jun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Minority Men

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Feasibility of a Limited Interaction Targeted Epidemiology of HIV Study in Sexual and Gender Minority American Adolescents and Adults: The Keeping it LITE Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.30761 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Neil Gleason ◽

Pedro Serrano ◽

Alejandro Muñoz ◽

Audrey French ◽

Sybil Hosek

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

The United States ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

National Cohort ◽

Minority Men

BACKGROUND HIV infection rates among sexual minority men and transgender individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, remain elevated in the United States despite continued improvement in HIV public health response. However, there remains a knowledge gap in understanding what barriers this community faces in receiving HIV care and prevention resources. To address this, the Keeping it LITE study was conducted to assess HIV risk factors and barriers to preventive treatment in a large national cohort of young sexual minority men and transgender individuals at high risk of HIV infection. OBJECTIVE The objective of this formative research manuscript is to evaluate the feasibility of enrolling a large remote cohort, challenges encountered in recruitment, and adjustments made to address these challenges. METHODS A large national cohort (n=3444) of young sexual minority men and transgender individuals was recruited. Participants were recruited via advertisements on social media, LGBTQ+ apps, print advertising, and word of mouth. RESULTS The Keeping it LITE study was particularly successful in recruiting participants via social media, and was successful in recruiting a large sample of transgender youth, particularly transgender men and nonbinary individuals. At-home HIV testing was acceptable and even preferred by some participants, though several barriers were encountered and overcome in the implementation of this testing. The study had more limited success in recruiting 13-17-year-old participants due to lower enrollment rates and barriers to advertising on some social media platforms. Implications of these findings for future development of HIV research and intervention protocols among sexual minority and trans youth are discussed. CONCLUSIONS The methods utilized in the Keeping it LITE study, particularly recruitment via social media, were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants.

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Raising Awareness About COVID-19 Among Sexual Minority Men of Color: Sex and the Coronavirus, 2020

Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health ◽

10.1891/lgbtq-2020-0025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 269-276

Author(s):

Rafael E. Pérez-Figueroa ◽

Mike Lurry ◽

Marc Thompson ◽

Dia J. Obonyo ◽

Anthony J. Santella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Promotion Strategy ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Men Of Color ◽

Health Promotion Strategy ◽

Minority Men ◽

Limited Health

Disparities among vulnerable and marginalized populations have become central in the global conversation about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, avoiding exposure to the virus is the most effective community mitigation strategy. However, limited health promotion interventions have been targeted to sexual minority men of color. Social media can offer opportunities for engaging a high number of sexual minority men of color across wide geographical areas. Sex and the Coronavirus is a health promotion campaign to raise awareness about COVID-19 and to enhance physical distancing practices among sexual minority men of color. The campaign showcased seven graphic stories launched on Instagram and Facebook. The stories revolved around challenges of adhering and negotiating physical distancing practices among sexual minority men of color. The characters and situations were based on the experiences and preferences of community members in New York City. We then culturally adapted the content to a United Kingdom audience by changing language and scenery. As of July 2020, more than 34,675 social media users were exposed to the campaign. The graphic stories elicited 2,872 likes, 102 comments, 236 bookmarks, 1,520 shares. The PDF version of the stories was downloaded 900 times. Findings suggest that graphic stories can be effective as part of a health promotion strategy to raise awareness on COVID-19. The strategy was effective in reaching a wide population of sexual minority men of color across broad geographical areas. Targeted culturally and structurally sensitive responses to the COVID-19 crisis are essential to achieve health equity.

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