title: Cigarette smoking as part of a syndemic among young men who have sex with men ages 13-29 in New York City.
abstract: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) is significantly higher than among their heterosexual peers. We undertook an analysis to examine cigarette smoking in relation to demographic factors and other risk behaviors among 580 YMSM, ages 13-29, in New York City. Cross-sectional data were collected as part of larger study of risk behaviors using palm devices and targeted active recruitment strategies across all five boroughs of the city. Multivariate modeling suggests that Asian or Pacific Islander and White YMSM are more likely to report cigarette smoking than other racial and ethnic groups, as are men reporting a middle class socioeconomic status. In addition, smoking was related to the likelihood of using a variety of illicit substances, as well as alcohol and pharmaceuticals without a prescription, during the period of assessment. YMSM who smoke cigarettes reported a greater number of casual sex partners and a greater number of transactional sex partners than non-smokers. Episodic analysis of sexual behaviors with casual partners indicated that smokers were more likely to engage in illicit drug and alcohol use immediately before or during sex than did non-smokers. These findings are understood as part of a larger syndemic among YMSM, and suggest that smoking prevention and cessation programs should be embedded as part of larger more holistic health and wellness programs targeting YMSM.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Erik David
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Storholm
authors.forename: Perry N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Halkitis
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Siconolfi
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Moeller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs