Body Dissatisfaction and Methamphetamine Use Among HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Methamphetamine use is strongly associated with risky sex and increased reports of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among gay and bisexual men (GBM) who attend dance/circuit parties. The psychological mechanisms underlying methamphetamine use in this subculture, however, remain unclear. These exploratory findings are from a 2004 dataset measuring body dissatisfaction and drug use among 42 HIV-positive GBM in South Florida who attended at least one bar/club/circuit party within 3 months of participating. A multivariate regression model revealed that body dissatisfaction accounted for a small but significant amount of variance in methamphetamine use. Treatment implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

L'insatisfaction corporelle et l'utilisation de la méthamphétamine parmi les hommes homosexuels et bisexuels séropositifs pour le VIH

L'utilisation de la méthamphétamine est fortement liée aux relations sexuelles dangereuses et à l'augmentation du nombre de cas de personnes atteintes de VIH et d'autres infections transmises sexuellement parmi les hommes homosexuels et bisexuels qui fréquentent les boîtes de nuit et les circuits de fêtes. Les mécanismes psychologiques qui inspirent l'utilisation de la méthamphétamine dans cette sous-culture, cependant, sont encore diffus. Ces résultats de recherche viennent d'un ensemble de données de 2004 mesurant l'insatisfaction corporelle et l'utilisation de drogues parmi 42 hommes homosexuels et bisexuels séropositifs pour le VIH dans la Floride du Sud ayant fréquenté au moins un bar/club/circuit de fêtes dans les trois mois suivant la participation. Un modèle de régression multivarié a révélé que l'insatisfaction corporelle peut expliquer une petite partie, tout de même significative, de la variation de l'utilisation de la méthamphétamine. Les répercussions du traitement et les recommandations pour la recherche future sont discutées.

RESUMEN

Insatisfacción sobre la imagen corporal y el uso de metanfetamina entre hombres homosexuals y bisexuals con el virus del VIH

El uso de metanfetamina está fuertemente asociado con riesgosas prácticas sexuales, el aumento de casos de VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual entre hombres homosexuales y bisexuales (HHB) que asisten a bailes/fiestas. Los mecanismos psicológicos indican que el uso de metanfetaminas en esta subcultura, siguen sin esclarecense. Estos resultados son una base de datos del 2004 que miden la insatisfacción corporal y el consumo de drogas entre las 42 personas con VIH (HHB) en el sur de la Florida que asistieron al menos a un bar/club/fiesta dentro de los 3 meses de participación. Un modelo de regresión multivariante reveló la insatisfacción corporal que correspondía a una pequeña cantidad, pero significativa, de la variación en el consumo de metanfetaminas. Implicaciones en el tratamiento y recomendaciones son discutidas para investigación para el futuro.

Keywords :

• body dissatisfaction
• HIV
• club drugs
• methamphetamine
• gay/bisexual
• self-objectification

THE AUTHORS

Richard P. Achiro, BA, is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. He is currently on the board of directors for the Los Angeles Psychological Association (LACPA) and Co-Chairs the Rockway Institute Student Affiliate (RISA) at the Alliant International University Los Angeles campus. His major research interests include male body dissatisfaction, eating disorder treatment and prevention, and the psychological correlates of chronic disease.

Michael H. Antoni, Ph.D., is a Sylvester Distinguished Professor at the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Program Leader of the Biobehavioral Oncology multidisciplinary research program at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), and a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Florida. Since Michael H. Antoni joined the University in 1987, he has received extensive extramural support from NIH and published over 400 journal articles, books, book chapters, and abstracts on studies testing the effects of stress factors, social resources, and stress management interventions on psychological adjustment, biological processes, and clinical health outcomes in chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and breast, prostate, and cervical neoplasias. He received the Early Career Research Awards from the Society of Behavioral Medicine and the American Psychological Association, and is a Fellow in the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Michael H. Antoni has served as an Associate Editor for two interdisciplinary behavioral medicine journals: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Psychology and Health for the past 10 years and has served on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.

Peter S. Theodore, Ph.D., is currently an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program of the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, and a faculty affiliate of the University's Rockway Institute (a center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) psychological research and public policy). He is also a licensed psychologist in the state of California with professional interests traversing the fields of HIV prevention, substance abuse treatment, and behavioral medicine. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Miami in clinical psychology in 2005 during which time he completed an NIMH predoctoral fellowship in HIV/AIDS research and was the recipient of an APA Dissertation Research Award for a community-based project investigating recreational drug use and sexual risk behaviors among GBM. Postdoctorally, he directed a methamphetamine abuse treatment program designed specifically for GBM and has served numerous roles on various state and federally funded projects addressing the intersection of substance abuse and HIV prevention. His current research addresses health disparities among LGBT persons and reducing LGBT-related prejudice, discrimination, and violence. He has presented at numerous conferences and published in journals including Sexuality Research and Social Policy, Journal of NSRC, AIDS and Behavior, and Journal of Homosexuality.

Ron E. F. Durán, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and system-wide Associate Dean for administration with the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University. He is a Clinical Health Psychologist, a Ford Foundation fellow (pre-doctoral dissertation), and a Rockway Institute fellow with over 25 chapters and articles on the associations among identity, culture, and health.