The impact of recent stressful experiences on HIV-risk related behaviors.
Limited research has captured the wide varieties of distinct, but interrelated, life stressors that young men who have sex with men (YMSM) experience as emerging adults. We examined the way recent experiences of a diverse set of stressors predict illicit drug use, alcohol misuse, and inconsistent condom use (i.e., unprotected anal intercourse) among an ethnically diverse cohort of YMSM (N=526). Results indicated that stress related to financial and health concerns were associated with increased risk for substance use, while health concerns and partner-related stress were associated with sexual risk-taking. Additional analyses indicated drug use and alcohol misuse did not significantly mediate the impact that stressors have on sexual risk. Findings show that stressors from different life domains can have impact on different HIV-risk behavior. Results challenge the way diverse stressful life experiences are conceptualized for this population.
Wong
Carolyn F
CF
Community, Health Outcomes, and Intervention Research Program, The Saban Research Institute, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. cawong@chla.usc.edu
Kipke
Michele D
MD
Weiss
George
G
McDavitt
Bryce
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008016:Life Change Events; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011287:Prejudice; D011594:Psychometrics; D012650:Self Disclosure; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs