Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study
Research with male sexual minorities frequently combines gay and bisexual men as Men Who Have Sex with Men or Gay and Bisexual Men. When analyzed separately, bisexual men consistently feature negative health differentials, exemplified by higher substance use levels. This interpretation is not clear-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2018-09-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Men's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318786872 |
| _version_ | 1818559192527536128 |
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| author | Eric Abella Roth PhD Zishan Cui MSc Lu Wang MSc Heather L. Armstrong PhD Ashleigh J. Rich MPH Nathan J. Lachowsky PhD Paul Sereda BA Kiffer G. Card PhD Jody Jollimore MPP Terry Howard MSc PPH Gbolahan Olarewaju MSc David M. Moore MD, MHSc Robert S. Hogg PhD |
| author_facet | Eric Abella Roth PhD Zishan Cui MSc Lu Wang MSc Heather L. Armstrong PhD Ashleigh J. Rich MPH Nathan J. Lachowsky PhD Paul Sereda BA Kiffer G. Card PhD Jody Jollimore MPP Terry Howard MSc PPH Gbolahan Olarewaju MSc David M. Moore MD, MHSc Robert S. Hogg PhD |
| author_sort | Eric Abella Roth PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research with male sexual minorities frequently combines gay and bisexual men as Men Who Have Sex with Men or Gay and Bisexual Men. When analyzed separately, bisexual men consistently feature negative health differentials, exemplified by higher substance use levels. This interpretation is not clear-cut because studies may combine bisexual men and women, use different dimensions of sexual orientation to define bisexuality, and/or not consider number of sexual partners as a possible confounding factor. This study conducted separate bivariate and multivariate analyses comparing gay to bisexual Momentum Study participants based on self-identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior, while controlling for number of sexual partners and sociodemographic, psychosocial, and sexual behavior measures. The study hypothesized that, regardless of definition, bisexual men feature higher substance use levels compared to gay men. Bivariate analyses revealed significantly higher ( p < .05) use among bisexual men for multiple substances in all samples. Nonprescription stimulants and heroin were significant in all multivariate logistic regression models. In contrast, all bisexual samples reported lower use of erectile dysfunction drugs and poppers, substances associated with anal sex among gay men. Subsequent analysis linked these results to lower levels of anal sex in all bisexual samples. Bivariate analyses also revealed that bisexual men featured significantly lower educational levels, annual incomes, and Social Support Scales scores and higher Anxiety and Depression Sub-Scale Scores. In summary, findings revealed bisexual men’s distinctive substance use, sexual behavior, psychosocial, and sociodemographic profiles, and are important for tailoring specific health programs for bisexual men. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:22:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83ccec8913bc44b0998557ee0f268115 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1557-9883 1557-9891 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:22:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-83ccec8913bc44b0998557ee0f2681152022-12-21T23:25:11ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98831557-98912018-09-011210.1177/1557988318786872Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health StudyEric Abella Roth PhD0Zishan Cui MSc1Lu Wang MSc2Heather L. Armstrong PhD3Ashleigh J. Rich MPH4Nathan J. Lachowsky PhD5Paul Sereda BA6Kiffer G. Card PhD7Jody Jollimore MPP8Terry Howard MSc PPH9Gbolahan Olarewaju MSc10David M. Moore MD, MHSc11Robert S. Hogg PhD12Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, CanadaExecutive Director, Community Based Research Centre for Gay Men’s Health, Vancouver, BC, CanadaCommunity Advisory Board, Momentum Health Study, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, CanadaResearch with male sexual minorities frequently combines gay and bisexual men as Men Who Have Sex with Men or Gay and Bisexual Men. When analyzed separately, bisexual men consistently feature negative health differentials, exemplified by higher substance use levels. This interpretation is not clear-cut because studies may combine bisexual men and women, use different dimensions of sexual orientation to define bisexuality, and/or not consider number of sexual partners as a possible confounding factor. This study conducted separate bivariate and multivariate analyses comparing gay to bisexual Momentum Study participants based on self-identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior, while controlling for number of sexual partners and sociodemographic, psychosocial, and sexual behavior measures. The study hypothesized that, regardless of definition, bisexual men feature higher substance use levels compared to gay men. Bivariate analyses revealed significantly higher ( p < .05) use among bisexual men for multiple substances in all samples. Nonprescription stimulants and heroin were significant in all multivariate logistic regression models. In contrast, all bisexual samples reported lower use of erectile dysfunction drugs and poppers, substances associated with anal sex among gay men. Subsequent analysis linked these results to lower levels of anal sex in all bisexual samples. Bivariate analyses also revealed that bisexual men featured significantly lower educational levels, annual incomes, and Social Support Scales scores and higher Anxiety and Depression Sub-Scale Scores. In summary, findings revealed bisexual men’s distinctive substance use, sexual behavior, psychosocial, and sociodemographic profiles, and are important for tailoring specific health programs for bisexual men.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318786872 |
| spellingShingle | Eric Abella Roth PhD Zishan Cui MSc Lu Wang MSc Heather L. Armstrong PhD Ashleigh J. Rich MPH Nathan J. Lachowsky PhD Paul Sereda BA Kiffer G. Card PhD Jody Jollimore MPP Terry Howard MSc PPH Gbolahan Olarewaju MSc David M. Moore MD, MHSc Robert S. Hogg PhD Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study American Journal of Men's Health |
| title | Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study |
| title_full | Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study |
| title_fullStr | Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study |
| title_short | Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study |
| title_sort | substance use patterns of gay and bisexual men in the momentum health study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318786872 |
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