Recent trends in U.S. urban centers indicate a rise in the number of new HIV infections in the population of young men who have sex with men (YMSM). These trends suggest a high level of vulnerability to HIV seroconversion in YMSM through sexual behavior as they emerge into adulthood. In addition, acts of sexual risk taking in this population often function synergistically with illicit drug use, and mental health burden. Despite some success with HIV prevention in the MSM population during the last 25 years, these recent patterns suggest that a reexamination of our prevention strategies for this population, especially for YMSM of color, is needed. Given the interplay that exists between unprotected sexual behavior, illicit drug use, and mental health burden, all such efforts must consider how these overlapping epidemics (also known as syndemics) fuel each other in a cohort of YMSM as they emerge into adulthood. Thus, we will we will initiate a prospective longitudinal program of research to follow the development of syndemics in a racially/ethnically and economically diverse cohort of urban HIV-negative YMSM in New York City as they transition from adolescence into young adulthood, and apply, test, and further develop a theory of syndemic production to understand the development of both maladaptive and adaptive behavioral outcomes. Specifically we seek to (1) develop and test theoretically informed measurement models of the covariance of illicit drug use, unprotected sexual behavior, and mental health burden among emergent adult HIV-negative YMSM within and across time, (2) assess whether patterns of behavior are continuous, discontinuous, or some combination of both;(3) delineate the risk and protective bases-physical factors (i.e., pubertal onset, HIV status), relational factors (i.e., family history of psychopathology, current romantic relationships, peer support, and characteristics of residential, social, and sex neighborhoods), and psychosocial factors (i.e., sexual identity, internalized homophobia, hypermasculinity, racial identity, racial devaluation, HIV optimism) that predict the development of syndemics, and (4) determine the extent to which the development of syndemics varies by race/ethnicity, social class, and homelessness/housing stability in a cohort of HIV-negative YMSM. Using multiple measurement modalities, which include biological assays, calendar based methods, and self-reports, we will follow the development of 675, 18-year-old HIV-negative YMSM. Participants will be recruited through venue-based and respondent driven sampling, as they emerge into adulthood, over seven waves of data collection within a 36-month time frame. We will utilize Structural Equation and Latent Growth Curve Analysis to answer our four main research questions.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this project is to understand why a new generation of young men who have sex with other men place themselves at risk for HIV transmission. Knowledge which we will generate will help us understand how these young men emerge into adulthood, the choices they make about sexual behavior and illicit drug use, as well as how these two behaviors interact with their mental health. We seek to understand why some men exhibit risky behaviors as they emerge into adulthood while others do not. Working with community and municipal partners, we will draw from what we have learned from both groups to develop strategies for HIV prevention and intervention that are relevant to this current and developing generation who did not live through the devastation of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980's. In addition, we will add to the methodological literature based on our analysis of nested latent growth curve models.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA025537-03S1
Application #
8215426
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Science Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSPH)
Program Officer
Schulden, Jeffrey D
Project Start
2009-05-15
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2011-03-01
Budget End
2012-02-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$38,378
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
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Halkitis, Perry N; Cook, Stephanie H; Ristuccia, Annie et al. (2018) Psychometric analysis of the Life Worries Scale for a new generation of sexual minority men: The P18 Cohort Study. Health Psychol 37:89-101
Greene, Richard E; Luong, Albert; Barton, Staci C et al. (2018) Assessing Gaps in the HIV Care Continuum in Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: The P18 Cohort Study. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 29:475-478
Halkitis, Perry N; Bub, Kristen; Stults, Christopher B et al. (2018) Latent Growth Curve Modeling of Non-Injection Drug Use and Condomless Sexual Behavior from Ages 18 to 21 in Gay, Bisexual, and Other YMSM: The P18 Cohort Study. Subst Use Misuse 53:101-113
Ristuccia, Annie; LoSchiavo, Caleb; Halkitis, Perry N et al. (2018) Sexualised drug use among sexual minority young adults in the United States: The P18 cohort study. Int J Drug Policy 55:207-214
D'Avanzo, Paul A; Barton, Staci C; Kapadia, Farzana et al. (2017) Personality and its Relation to Mental and Psychosocial Health in Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men: The P18 Cohort Study. Behav Med 43:191-199
Abbott, Collette E; Greene, Richard E; Kapadia, Farzana et al. (2017) A Case of Rectal Ureaplasma Infection and Implications for Testing in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: The P18 Cohort Study. LGBT Health 4:161-163
Duncan, Dustin T; Kapadia, Farzana; Kirchner, Thomas R et al. (2017) Acceptability of Ecological Momentary Assessment Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. J LGBT Youth 14:436-444
Stults, Christopher B; Kupprat, Sandra A; Krause, Kristen D et al. (2017) Perceptions of Safety Among LGBTQ People Following the 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting. Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers 4:251-256
Krause, Kristen D; Kapadia, Farzana; Ompad, Danielle C et al. (2016) Early Life Psychosocial Stressors and Housing Instability among Young Sexual Minority Men: the P18 Cohort Study. J Urban Health 93:511-25

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