Exchanging a “Gnawing Thought for “Taking a Pill Once a Day”: Examining Sexual Minority Men's Experiences With PrEP and Mental Health in a Universal PrEP Access Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 411-423
Author(s):  
Nick Gagliano ◽  
Stéphanie Black ◽  
Caroline Mniszak ◽  
Jeffrey Morgan ◽  
Nathan Lachowsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Hiv Stigma ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Preexposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition

This study explores how universal access to and taking no-cost preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which effectively prevents HIV acquisition, may impact the mental health-related experiences of sexual minority men, including HIV-related anxiety. We employed community-based and participatory methods to conduct and analyze 27 interviews with sexual minority men in British Columbia, Canada. Before starting PrEP, participants’ experiences with sex were highly associated with HIV-related anxiety. Participants stated they did not explicitly initiate PrEP to reduce HIV-related anxiety, yet many described significant reductions of HIV-related anxiety after starting PrEP. Participants described feeling that the sex they were having was safer following their initiation of PrEP, which resulted in increased ability to access heightened experiences of pleasure, desire, and intimacy. PrEP's capacity to impact HIV stigma and health broadly should continue to be explored, particularly given the mental health inequities faced by those who may acquire HIV.

scholarly journals Effects of victimization on mental health and substance use trajectories in young sexual minority men

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (04) ◽  
pp. 1423-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Swann ◽  
Emily Forscher ◽  
Emily Bettin ◽  
Michael E. Newcomb ◽  
Brian Mustanski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Over Time

AbstractYoung sexual minority men (YSMM) experience more victimization and are at higher risk for mental health and substance use problems compared with heterosexual youth. We attempt to understand change over time in the experience of these constructs among YSMM. Data were taken from a diverse community-based sample of YSMM (N = 450, baseline mean age 18.93) surveyed every 6 months for 2.5 years. Multilevel modeling was used to model within-person change in victimization, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, alcohol frequency, marijuana use, and illicit drug use. We tested the indirect effect of concurrent and time-lagged victimization on the association between age and mental health and substance use. Victimization, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms decreased over time. Concurrent victimization was associated with higher internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, alcohol use, marijuana use, and illicit drug use. Analysis of indirect effects suggested that the association between victimization and mental health and substance use outcomes decreased as participants transitioned from adolescence into adulthood. This study found that the reduction in victimization that YSMM experience as they grow older is associated with a reduction in negative mental health and substance use outcomes. Prevention efforts to limit victimization exposure may reduce health disparities for YSMM.

scholarly journals The Importance of Social Support, Positive Identity, and Resilience in the Successful Aging of Older Sexual Minority Men

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Henrique Pereira ◽  
Patrícia Silva
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Positive Identity ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
And Bisexual

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between social support, positive identity, and resilience and the successful aging of older sexual minority men. The study involved having 210 self-identified gay and bisexual men aged between 50 and 80 years complete a cross-sectional online survey comprised of sociodemographic information; the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; the Lesbian, Gay, and multifactor Bisexual Positive Identity Measure; the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale 10; and the Successful Aging Perceptions Scale. The results showed that self-identified gay participants showed higher levels of positive identity, while bisexual participants scored higher for resilience, mental health, and successful aging. Higher levels of social support, resilience, and positive identity were significant predictors of mental health (28%), physical health (18%), and successful aging (10%) in our sample. These results offer similarities with the growing body of literature on the positive factors of successful aging in the gay and bisexual men communities, which is an important step in the development of aging and health preventive initiatives among this population.

scholarly journals Mental Health Disorders in Young Urban Sexual Minority Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Nicole Burns ◽  
Daniel T. Ryan ◽  
Robert Garofalo ◽  
Michael E. Newcomb ◽  
Brian Mustanski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Maximizing respondent-driven sampling field procedures in the recruitment of sexual minorities for health research

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211982998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L Hequembourg ◽  
Christina Panagakis
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Respondent Driven Sampling ◽  
Hidden Populations ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Successful Execution ◽  
Minority Men

Objectives: Research to address the significant health burden experienced by sexual minority populations remains hampered by a lack of appropriate sampling methods to support evidence-based studies. Respondent-driven sampling offers one viable strategy to recruit these hidden populations. Because few studies systematically report their experiences using respondent-driven sampling to recruit sexual minorities, this article aligns with recent recommendations for the standardization of reporting and transparency in studies utilizing respondent-driven sampling. We (1) provide detailed descriptions about the successful execution of respondent-driven sampling in two community-based studies of sexual minority individuals, (2) outline procedures to enhance the effectiveness of respondent-driven sampling referral processes, (3) present mixed-methods results regarding the effectiveness of respondent-driven sampling in our studies, and (4) offer recommendations for other researchers when using respondent-driven sampling. Methods: We successfully recruited 655 sexual minority men and women for two studies using respondent-driven sampling. Results: Resulting metrics indicate the successful achievement of equilibrium in each study. In addition, exit interviews elucidated strategies to effectively target referrals who meet the study criteria and procedures to promote the study that will maximize referral chains and ensure attainment of equilibrium. Conclusion: Mixed-methods results suggest that respondent-driven sampling can be an effective means of recruiting a community-based sample of sexual minorities in smaller urban regions. Limitations are presented and suggestions are offered to researchers utilizing respondent-driven sampling in future studies.

scholarly journals Family Support and Sociocultural Factors on Depression among Black and Latinx Sexual Minority Men

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6759
Author(s):  
Donte T. Boyd ◽  
S. Raquel Ramos ◽  
Camille R. Quinn ◽  
Kristian V. Jones ◽  
Leo Wilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Internalized Homophobia ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Family Social Support ◽  
Minority Men

Family-based approaches are critical for improving health outcomes in sexual minority men (SMM) of color. Yet, it is unclear how family context, internalized homophobia, and stress influence mental health outcomes among sexual minority men of color. From a cross-sectional sample of 448 participants, aged 16–24 years, survey data were analyzed to examine rates of family social support, the perception of sexuality by family, the stressfulness of life events, internalized homophobia, and other contextual variables on depression using linear regression. Our results indicated that an 86% increase in family social support was related to a −0.14 decrease in depression (ß = −0.14, p = 0.004). In addition, SMM who were separated by family and friends because of their sexuality were statistically significant and positively associated with depression (ß = 0.09, p < 0.001). Findings from our study suggest that the influence from the microsystem is salient in modifying mental health outcomes for SMM of color.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document