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Risk Behavior Stigma and Substance Use in Latino MSM

¹ Amiracle Williams-Anderson Roosevelt University , College of Arts and Sciences

² Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter , PhD, Michigan State University, College of Social Science

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Background

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Risky behaviors are behaviors in which an individual consciously or unconsciously does something that puts them in harm's way. This includes unsafe sex practices and substance abuse. There is an increased need to reduce stigma related to sexual behaviors and substance abuse in gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

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Methods

   A 479-item questionnaire was given to 643 Latino MSM in Chicago by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) in 2004. With this data, I conducted secondary analyses using Multiple Logistic Regression  and Mediation. STATA, a statistical software program will be used to conduct these analyses. 

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Discussion

Through the conducted analyses it was discovered that MSM who report perceived gay stigma do have a higher likelihood of abusing meth. However, MSM that reported perceived gay stigma did not have a greater or lesser likelihood of abusing alcohol. What this means is that in comparison to MSM who did  not report perceived gay stigma the likelihood of abusing alcohol is consistent throughout. 

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Research Questions

RQ1a: What is the association between perceived stigma and alcohol use? 

RQ1b: What is the association between perceived stigma and meth use?

RQ2a: To what extent does social support mediate effects of perceived stigma and alcohol use?

RQ2b: To what extent does social support mediate effects of perceived stigma and meth use?

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Results 

Figure A. MSM who report perceived gay stigma have neither a  greater or lesser odds of using alcohol. However when looking at sexual orientation, age and income alcohol use is at greater odds. 

Figure B. MSM who report perceived gay stigma and age have a greater odds of using Meth. However use of meth is not lesser or greater when looking at sexual orientation and income

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Future Works

If this project was to continue, more substances would be tested such as heroin, ecstasy and marijuana in relation to perceived gay stigma. I would also go as far as looking into experienced gay stigma and the relationships between the substances. It would look at different forms of social support

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References

Garett, R., Smith, J., Chiu, J., & Young, S. D. (2016). HIV/AIDS stigma among a sample of primarily African-American and Latino men who have sex with men social media users. AIDS Care, 28(6), 731-735. doi:10.1080/09540121.2016.1146395

Gilbert, P. A., Barrington, C., Rhodes, S. D., & Eng, E. (2016). Saliendo adelante: Stressors and coping strategies among immigrant latino men who have sex with men in a nontraditional settlement state. American Journal of Men's Health, 10(6), 515-525. doi:10.1177/1557988316647704

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