title: The role of sexual expectancies of substance use as a mediator between adult attachment and drug use among gay and bisexual men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research exploring substance use in gay and bisexual men has increasingly paid attention to interpersonal dynamics and relational concerns associated with the use of substances. The current study explored the role of adult attachment style on drug use as well as the potential mediating role of sexual expectancies of substance use among gay and bisexual men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey data were gathered from 122 gay and bisexual men across the U.S., with a mean age of 33 years. All participants were HIV-negative and identified their relationship status as single. Survey measures included attachment style, sexual expectancies of substance use, and recent drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While neither anxious or avoidant attachment were directly associated with the odds of recent drug use, they were positively associated with sexual expectancies of substance use (β=0.27, p<0.01, and β=0.21, p<0.05) which, in turn, were positively associated with the odds of drug use (expB=1.09, p<0.01). Bootstrapping tests of indirect effects revealed a significant indirect relationship between anxious attachment and drug use through sexual expectancies of substance use (β=0.11, p<0.05), but not for avoidant attachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of interpersonal expectancies as motivators for drug use among gay and bisexual men. Sexual expectancies of substance use were associated with drug use and anxious adult attachment was associated indirectly with drug use through these sexual expectancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), 695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA; Health Psychology and Clinical Science Doctoral Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10034, USA; Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), 142 West 36th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA. Electronic address: tstarks@hunter.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Tyrel J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Starks
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology and Clinical Science Doctoral Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10034, USA; Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), 142 West 36th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA.
authors.forename: Brett M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.affiliation: Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), 142 West 36th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tuck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), 695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA; Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), 142 West 36th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; Basic and Applied Social Psychology Doctoral Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10034, USA; Doctorate in Public Health Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10034, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009769:Object Attachment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attachment; MSM; Sexual minority; Substance use