title: Reliability and Validity of a Material Resources Scale and Its Association With Depression Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: The P18 Cohort Study.
abstract: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a fundamental cause of ill health, but an understudied determinant of health for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Surprisingly, few studies have examined the relations between poverty and depression among young MSM. The aims of this study were to determine the reliability and validity of an 18-item Family Resource Scale (FRS) as a measure of SES among YMSM and examine the relations between SES and depression, while taking into account factors associated with resilience or risk for poor mental health. Reliability of the SES scale was determined with Cronbach's alpha. Validity was assessed with factor analysis and bivariable comparisons with other SES measures. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relations between depressive symptomology (via the Beck Depression Inventory-II), SES, and gay-related psychosocial variables. In this racially/ethnically diverse sample (mean age = 21.8 years, 37.3% Hispanic/Latino, 30.5% White, 14.9% Black, and 17.0% other race/ethnicity), 70.8% reported incomes ≤ $10,000 and the mean FRS score was 4.1 ( SD = 0.9, range 0-5). The FRS demonstrated reliability (α = .91) and criterion and construct validity. The Beck Depression Inventory-II rated 17.6% with depressive symptomology. Higher FRS scores were associated with a lower odds of depression (adjusted odds ratio = 0.58; 95% confidence interval = 0.46-0.74) in logistic regression models controlling for gay community affinity and internalized homophobia. This diverse sample of YMSM in New York City reported substantial financial hardship and those who were more gay-identified had fewer material resources. Fewer material resources and internalized homophobia were both associated with higher odds of depression.
authors.affiliation: 1 New York University (NYU), College of Global Public Health (CGPH), New York, NY, USA.|3 Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ompad
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, NYU CGPH, New York, NY, USA.|5 Department of Applied Psychology, NYU Steinhardt, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Palamar
authors.affiliation: 1 New York University (NYU), College of Global Public Health (CGPH), New York, NY, USA.|2 Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, NYU CGPH, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: 1 New York University (NYU), College of Global Public Health (CGPH), New York, NY, USA.|4 Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapadia
authors.affiliation: 1 New York University (NYU), College of Global Public Health (CGPH), New York, NY, USA.|5 Department of Applied Psychology, NYU Steinhardt, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Perry N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Halkitis
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; behavioral issues; drug use; physiological and endocrine disorders; quantitative research; research