Social support network characteristics and sexual risk taking among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of young, urban men who have sex with men

AIDS Behav. 2013 Jun;17(5):1819-28. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0468-2.

Abstract

Associations between social support network characteristics and sexual risk among racially/ethnically diverse young men who have sex with men (YMSM) were examined using egocentric network data from a prospective cohort study of YMSM (n = 501) recruited in New York City. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined associations between social support network characteristics and sexual risk taking behaviors in Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White YMSM. Bivariate analyses indicated key differences in network size, composition, communication frequency and average relationship duration by race/ethnicity. In multivariable analyses, controlling for individual level sociodemographic, psychosocial and relationship factors, having a sexual partner in one's social support network was associated with unprotected sexual behavior for both Hispanic/Latino (AOR = 3.90) and White YMSM (AOR = 4.93). Further examination of key network characteristics across racial/ethnic groups are warranted in order to better understand the extant mechanisms for provision of HIV prevention programming to racially/ethnically diverse YMSM at risk for HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Black People / psychology
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Homosexuality, Male / ethnology
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Social Support*
  • Unsafe Sex / ethnology
  • Unsafe Sex / psychology*
  • Unsafe Sex / statistics & numerical data
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult