Substance Use Patterns of Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study

Abstract

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.

Injecting drug use among gay and bisexual men in New Zealand: Findings from national human immunodeficiency virus epidemiological and behavioural surveillance

“…Comparing across GBM populations, the prevalence of IDU in New Zealand is lower than in Australia, where 4.8% of GBM recruited in community samples reported recent IDU and 10.3% in an online cohort reported any lifetime IDU . In a respondent‐driven sampling study in Vancouver, 8.4% of gay‐identified men reported IDU in the previous 6 months . IDU in the past 12 months was reported by 1.9% of HIV negative and 5.2% of HIV positive GBM in the US National HIV Behavioral Surveillance survey .…”

Mental Health Disparities Among Homosexual Men and Minorities: A Systematic Review

“…Six studies focused on substance and drug misuse in gay, bisexual men, either alone or compared with heterosexual counterparts (Fallin-Bennett et al, 2017; Heffner et al, 2020; Ip et al, 2017; Jordan et al, 2014; Roth et al, 2018; Starks et al, 2019). Two of the studies were randomized trials; one was controlled and the second was a pilot, interventional trial.…”

“…No differences in sexual behaviors were observed among the groups (Starks et al, 2019). Roth et al (2018) conducted bivariate and multivariate analysis by comparing bisexual and gay men for substance use patterns in the Momentum Study; participants were classified based on sexual attraction, self-identity, and sexual behavior while controlling for sociodemographic, sexual behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Bivariate analysis revealed that bisexual men had higher multiple substance use in all samples (p \ .05).…”

Sexual Desire, Mood, Attachment Style, Impulsivity, and Self-Esteem as Predictive Factors for Addictive Cybersex

“…In previous studies, males with a homosexual and a bisexual orientation reported differences in the use of cybersex (more frequent Web-based sexual interactions than those reported by heterosexual males) [52]. Furthermore, people in sexual minority groups, partly due to stigma, are at increased risk of health inequalities, such as addictive disorders [53] and depression [54].…”