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Age Cohort Differences in the Effects of Gay-Related Stigma, Anxiety and Identification with the Gay Community on Sexual Risk and Substance Use

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Abstract

Different cohorts of gay/bisexual men experience unique developmental factors given their distinct socio-historical contexts. This study examined the moderating effects of age on three psychosocial predictors of HIV risk behavior and substance use. Analyses drew on data from a study of substance using HIV-negative and unknown status gay/bisexual men (N = 302) at risk for HIV infection. Anxiety was a strong independent predictor of sexual risk and substance use, and its effects on the sex risk outcomes were moderated by age, such that older and more anxious participants had more frequent instances of sexual risk. Identification with the gay community protected against HIV risk, and its effects on sex risk outcomes were moderated by age, such that younger participants who identified with the gay community reported less sexual risk. Understanding HIV risk within socio-historical contexts is essential in tailoring prevention by taking into account recipients' ages.

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Acknowledgments

The Men’s Health Project was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (R01-DA020366, Jeffrey T. Parsons, Principal Investigator). The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Tyrel Starks in the analytic plan and the contributions of the Men’s Health Project Team—Michael Adams, Aaron Breslow, Kristi Gamarel, Dr. Christian Grov, Chris Hietikko, Zak Hill-Whilton, Catherine Holder, Anna Johnson, Mark Pawson, Dr. Gregory Payton, Jonathan Rendina, Kevin Robin, Joel Rowe, Michael Sainte, Anthony Surace, Dr. Julia Tomassilli, Andrea Vial, Dr. Brooke Wells, and the CHEST recruitment team. We also gratefully acknowledge Richard Jenkins for his support of the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA

    Corina Lelutiu-Weinberger, John E. Pachankis, Sarit A. Golub, Anthony J. Bamonte & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  2. Department of Psychology, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA

    John E. Pachankis

  3. Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA

    Sarit A. Golub & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  4. Social & Personality Psychology Doctoral Subprogram, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY, USA

    Sarit A. Golub & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  5. Center for AIDS Prevention, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    J. J. Garrett-Walker

  6. CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College, New York, NY, USA

    Jeffrey T. Parsons

  7. Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training, Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Jeffrey T. Parsons

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  1. Corina Lelutiu-Weinberger
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  2. John E. Pachankis
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  3. Sarit A. Golub
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  4. J. J. Garrett-Walker
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  5. Anthony J. Bamonte
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  6. Jeffrey T. Parsons
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Correspondence to Jeffrey T. Parsons.

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Lelutiu-Weinberger, C., Pachankis, J.E., Golub, S.A. et al. Age Cohort Differences in the Effects of Gay-Related Stigma, Anxiety and Identification with the Gay Community on Sexual Risk and Substance Use. AIDS Behav 17, 340–349 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0070-4

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