Repeated Measures Analysis of Alcohol Patterns among Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study

ABSTRACT

Background: This study analyzed repeated study visits (n = 2,624) of 693 gay and bisexual men (GBM) in the Momentum Health Study from July, 2012 to June, 2015. Based on recent cross-sectional analyses, we hypothesized that over the study period: (1) hazardous drinking levels would remain high, (2) GBM classified as Hazardous Drinkers will be consistently associated with high risk sex, and (3) GBM classified as Always Hazardous Drinkers differ significantly from Sometimes Hazardous Drinkers. Methods: AUDIT classified participants as Non-Hazardous Drinkers or Hazardous Drinkers, the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel Test assessed hazardous drinking trends, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis identified Hazardous Drinking covariates. Logistic regression analysis of participants with at least two study visits (575) compared those who were Sometimes Hazardous Drinkers (n = 171) with Always Hazardous Drinkers (n = 129). Results: At baseline 40% of participants were Hazardous Drinkers, but there was a significant decline in hazardous drinking by visit and Hazardous Drinkers were not significantly associated with high risk sex. Always Hazardous Drinkers had significantly more high risk sex and gay bar attendance, but less often sought Internet sex partners compared to Sometimes Hazardous Drinkers. Conclusions: Analyses did not support the first two hypotheses, but distinguishing between Always and Sometimes Hazardous drinkers identified a young GBM subgroup associated with significantly higher levels of high risk sex and social support measures. These results suggest interventions programs based on Social Norms Theory, which predicts peer norms among youth are important factors in regulating drinking patterns, may be effective for these men.

KEYWORDS:

• Gay and bisexual men
• gay bars
• hazardous drinking
• AUDIT
• repeated measures analysis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Acknowledgments

We thank our community colleagues at the Health Initiative for Men, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society of BC, and Positive Living Society of BC for their support. We also thank the research participants for sharing their important data with the Momentum Health Study. DMM and NL are supported by a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research [107544, 134046]; National Institutes for Health, National Institute for Drug Abuse [R01DA031055].