Congruence of Home, Social and Sex Neighborhoods among Men Who Have Sex with Men, NYCM2M Study

Abstract

Substantial literature demonstrates the influence of the neighborhood environment on health behaviors and outcomes. But limited research examines on how gay and bisexual men experience and exist in various geographic and virtual spaces and how this relates to their sexual behavior. New York City Men 2 Men (NYCM2M) was a cross-sectional study designed to identify neighborhood-level characteristics within the urban environment that influence sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and depression among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in NYC. The sample was recruited using a modified venue-based time-space sampling methodology and through select websites and mobile applications. Whether key neighborhoods of human activity, where a participant resided (termed home), socialized (termed social), or had sex most often (termed sex), were the same or different was evaluated. "Congruence" (or the sameness) of home, social, and most often sex neighborhood was reported by 17 % of men, while 30 % reported that none of their neighborhoods were the same. The largest group of men (39 %) reported that their home and sex neighborhoods were the same but their social neighborhood was different while 10 % reported that their home neighborhood was different than their social and sex neighborhood; 5 % men reported same home and social neighborhoods with a different sex neighborhood. Complete neighborhood incongruence was highest among men who were Black and/or Latino, had lower education and personal income levels, and had greater financial insecurity. In adjusted analysis, serodiscordant condomless anal intercourse and condomless anal intercourse with partners from the Internet or mobile applications were significantly associated with having the same social and sex (but not home) neighborhoods. Understanding the complexity of how different spaces and places relate to the health and sexual behavior of MSM is essential for focusing interventions to best reach various populations of interest.

Neighborhood determinants of mood and anxiety disorders among men who have sex with men in New York City

“…Our study suggests that, among urban MSM, the places where they socialize, rather than those they inhabit, have a particularly important influence on anxiety (and potentially their levels of depression). The salience of social neighborhoods for MSM may be due to the lack of congruence between the places where MSM choose to live and socialize—this may lead MSM to spend relatively little time in their home neighborhoods [15]. This may reflect a broader issue that affects sexual minorities, who choose to socialize away from home when the neighborhood they inhabit is not supportive of sexual minorities or they are not out about their sexuality[36].…”

“…Hence, we have little information on the influence that other important contexts, including social and workplace environments, have on mental health. This is a particularly important concern for MSM, who often live and socialize in very different types of neighborhoods [15]. In prior work, we found that only one in five MSM sampled from New York City reported living and socializing in the same neighborhoods [15].…”

Geospatial Indicators of Space and Place: A Review of Multilevel Studies of HIV Prevention and Care Outcomes Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States

“…For example, a study using a politically-defined data (e.g., Census tracts) to characterize neighborhoods may diverge from the sociocultural boundaries assigned by residents to the same space. Moreover, recent data suggest that the characteristics of spaces where youth and MSM reside, work, socialize, and have sex may be quite different from each other (Duncan et al, 2014; Koblin, Egan, Nandi, Sang, Cerda, Tieu, Ompad, Hoober & Frye, 2016; Tobin et al, 2014). As a result, new methods that account for the role of diverse geospatial locations (e.g., home, sexual spaces, social spaces) on health outcomes are warranted.…”

Prevalence and mapping of hepatitis C infections among men who have sex with men in New York City

“…As described in detail previously[ 58 , 59 ], MSM from the main NYC M2M study were recruited in person using a modified venue-based, time-space sampling methodology and internet- and mobile application-based recruitment. They were eligible for the study if they self-reported biological male sex at birth; engaged in anal sex with a man in the past 3 months; at least 18 years of age; resided in New York City; communicated in English or Spanish; and were willing and able to give informed consent for the study.…”