Rosario M, Rotheram-Borus MJ; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: C351 (abstract no. PoC 4648).
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of gay stress (e.g., disclosing sexual orientation to others) on gay male youths' sexual and drug using behaviors. METHODS: We recruited a consecutive series of 136 predominantly Hispanic (51%) and Black (31%) gay male youths (aged 14-19) presenting at a New York City agency, which provides social and recreational services to gay and lesbian youths. Youths were interviewed intensively about sexual and substance using behaviors and about gay life stress events during the previous 3 months using structured questionnaires. Sexual behaviors included engaging in receptive and active oral or anal sex with male partners. Substance use assessed frequency of using alcohol and a number of drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin) as well as problems associated with using alcohol and drugs. Gay stress consisted of 7 items assessing coming out to parents, siblings or friend; being discovered by parents, siblings or friends; being ridiculed for being gay. RESULTS: Gay stress was related significantly (p less than .05) to engaging in oral or anal sex with male partners, particularly receptive anal and insertive anal sex. In addition, gay stress was associated significantly with frequently using any of a host of drugs, particularly heroin. Gay stress also was related (p less than .05) to a number of health and social problems associated with alcohol use and with drug use (e.g., withdrawal symptoms, arguments with others about substance use). Further, reasons for continuing to use alcohol or drugs indicated that gay stress was related significantly to coping, particularly escape. Youths experiencing gay stress felt that alcohol and drugs had significantly impaired their health. CONCLUSIONS: Gay stress covaries with HIV risk behaviors, i.e., sexual behaviors that may directly expose youths to HIV, and alcohol and drug using behaviors that may indirectly place youths at risk by disinhibiting sexual restraints. Therefore, gay stress must be addressed in any HIV preventive intervention.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Adolescent Behavior
- African Americans
- Female
- HIV Infections
- Homosexuality
- Homosexuality, Female
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Interpersonal Relations
- Male
- Negotiating
- New York City
- Sexual Behavior
- Stress
- Substance-Related Disorders
Other ID:
UI: 102200035
From Meeting Abstracts