Mapping the current knowledge in syndemic research applied to men who have sex with men: A scoping review

Ouafik, Maxence; Buret, Laetitia; Scholtes, Béatrice

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115162

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Syndemics theory posits that negative social conditions cluster and interact to worsen each of the other conditions. 15,16 In fact, SV is associated with a range of other syndemic conditions, including alcohol and drug use, 19,24 depression and other mental health disorders, 16 IPV, 22 sexual compulsivity, 23 sexual risk behavior, 24 and HIV transmission. 25,26 Likely a common basis for many psychosocial syndemic conditions in MSM, 27 minority stress theory posits that the expectations for, experiences of, and internalization of discrimination and prejudice contribute to health disparities and outcomes [27][28][29][30] including SV.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date” (Preprint)

Angelone,

Mitchell,

Wells

et al. 2024

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem for sexual minorities, including men who have sex with men (MSM). The limited research suggests SV is associated with a host of syndemic conditions. These factors tend to cluster and interact to worsen each of the other conditions. Unfortunately, while much work has been conducted to examine these factors in heterosexual women, there is lack of research examining MSM, especially their ability to perceive the potential for SV risk. Further, MSM are active users of dating and sexual network (DSN) apps and this technology has demonstrated usefulness for creating safe spaces for MSM to meet and engage partners. However, there is mounting data demonstrating that DSN app use is associated with increased risk for SV, especially given the higher likelihood of using alcohol and other drugs before sex. On the other hand, some researchers have demonstrated that DSN technology can be harnessed as a prevention tool for HIV; unfortunately, no such work has progressed with regard to SV. OBJECTIVE The current project uses qualitative and quantitative methods to tailor an existing laboratory analogue of SV risk perception for MSM. This paradigm will be subjected to a rigorous validation study to confirm its usefulness in predicting risk for SV, with the potential for use in future prevention endeavors. METHODS For Aim 1, a team of computer scientists created the initial DSN app (“G-Date”) and incorporated ongoing feedback about the usability, feasibility, and realism of this tool from a representative sample of MSM. We used focus groups and interviews to assist the development of the G-Date app, including identifying relevant stimuli for the app, development of the cover story, and establishment of the appropriateness of study language. For Aim 2, we are conducting an experimental study with online and face-to-face participants to determine the content, concurrent, and predictive validity of the G-Date app. In short, we will evaluate whether certain correlates of SV (e.g., history of SV, alcohol and drug use) affect the ability of MSM to detect risk for SV within G-Date and how paradigm engagement connects to behavior in actual DSN app use contexts. RESULTS This study received funding from NIAAA on September 10, 2020 and ethical approval was received on October 19, 2020 and we began qualitative data collection for Aim 1 in February 2021. After an iterative approach to app development, we began data collection for the Aim 2 validation study in December 2022. Initial results from the validation study are expected to be available after June 2025. CONCLUSIONS It is hoped that G-Date will enhance our understanding of factors associated with SV risk, and serve as a useful step in creating prevention programs for this susceptible population.

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Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date” (Preprint)

Angelone,

Mitchell,

Wells

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…The prevalence of SV among MSM is not surprising given that sexual minority men experience a clustering of challenging conditions. Syndemics theory posits that negative social conditions cluster and interact to worsen each of the other conditions [14,15]. In fact, SV is associated with a range of other syndemic conditions, including substance use, mental health disorders, IPV, sexual compulsivity, sexual risk behavior, and HIV transmission [7,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date”

Angelone,

Mitchell,

Wells

et al. 2024

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem for sexual minorities, including men who have sex with men (MSM). The limited research suggests SV is associated with a host of syndemic conditions. These factors tend to cluster and interact to worsen one another. Unfortunately, while much work has been conducted to examine these factors in heterosexual women, there is a lack of research examining MSM, especially their SV risk perception. Further, MSM are active users of dating and sexual networking (DSN) mobile apps, and this technology has demonstrated usefulness for creating safe spaces for MSM to meet and engage partners. However, mounting data demonstrate that DSN app use is associated with an increased risk for SV, especially given the higher likelihood of using alcohol and other drugs before sex. By contrast, some researchers have demonstrated that DSN technology can be harnessed as a prevention tool for HIV; unfortunately, no such work has progressed regarding SV. Objective This study aims to (1) use qualitative and quantitative methods to tailor an existing laboratory paradigm of SV risk perception in women for MSM using a DSN mobile app framework and (2) subject this novel paradigm to a rigorous validation study to confirm its usefulness in predicting SV, with the potential for use in future prevention endeavors. Methods To tailor the paradigm for MSM, a team of computer scientists created an initial DSN app (G-Date) and incorporated ongoing feedback about the usability, feasibility, and realism of this tool from a representative sample of MSM. We used focus groups and interviews to assist in the development of G-Date, including by identifying relevant stimuli, developing the cover story, and establishing the appropriate study language. To confirm the paradigm’s usefulness, we are conducting an experimental study with web-based and face-to-face participants to determine the content, concurrent, and predictive validities of G-Date. We will evaluate whether certain correlates of SV informed by syndemics and minority stress theories (eg, history of SV and alcohol and drug use) affect the ability of MSM to detect SV risk within G-Date and how paradigm engagement influences behavior in actual DSN app use contexts. Results This study received funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism on September 10, 2020, and ethics approval on October 19, 2020, and we began app development for aim 1 immediately thereafter. We began data collection for the aim 2 validation study in December 2022. Initial results from the validation study are expected to be available after December 2025. Conclusions We hope that G-Date will enhance our understanding of factors associated with SV risk and serve as a useful step in creating prevention programs for this susceptible population.

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“…Y oung Black American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) are more likely to experience socioeconomic instability in comparison with their White or heterosexual counterparts (Ouafik et al, 2022). This disparity can be attributed to the unequal distribution of resources related to their intersectional experiences of racism, heterosexism, and classism, which synergistically converge to undermine health and wellbeing (Bowleg et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

Exploring the Association Between Indicators of Socioeconomic Instability, Survival Sex, and Methamphetamine Use Among Young Adult Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Curtis,

Reed,

Newman

et al. 2023

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care

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Methamphetamine (Meth) use is a contributor to poor health outcomes among young Black American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM). Emerging research indicates that socioeconomic instability may be a salient antecedent of meth use as men may be encouraged to engage in health-eroding activities, such as survival sex, to care for themselves, and then cope with instability-related stress via use of substances. We examined the degree to which indicators of socioeconomic instability, including homelessness and food insecurity, would directly, and indirectly, predict increases in meth use, via survival sex engagement. Hypotheses were tested using mediated path analysis with data from 100 YB-GBMSM in Atlanta, Georgia. Preliminary analysis results demonstrated positive associations between engaging in survival sex, food insecurity, homelessness, and living with HIV. Findings demonstrated that homelessness and food insecurity were directly associated with increased survival sex engagement but were not directly associated with meth use. Homelessness and food insecurity were indirectly associated with increased severity of meth use, via increased engagement in survival sex. Socioeconomic instability and survival sex engagement may be important intervention targets for future meth use intervention/prevention programming. Integrating programmatic components that address homelessness and food insecurity may decrease YB-GBMSM's need to rely on survival sex to meet their needs and decrease their likelihood of using meth as a result.

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Mapping the current knowledge in syndemic research applied to men who have sex with men: A scoping review

Cited by 10 publications

References 100 publications

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date” (Preprint)

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date” (Preprint)

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date”

Exploring the Association Between Indicators of Socioeconomic Instability, Survival Sex, and Methamphetamine Use Among Young Adult Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

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