Multivariate Relations Between Lifetime Adversity and Substance Use Involvement: Comparisons Between Gay and Bisexual Emerging Adult Men

Abstract

This study investigated multivariate relations between (a) lifetime experiences of adversity and (b) past year substance use involvement among cisgender sexual minority emerging adult men, ages 18–29 years. Ethnically and racially diverse samples of gay (N = 205, age_M = 24.33 years) and bisexual men (N = 201, age_M = 23.31 years) were recruited from the United States using the internet-based CloudResearch platform to complete 20-minute online surveys. Canonical correlation analyses (CCAs) documented a higher canonical correlation between canonical variates among gay (.471) compared to bisexual (.346) men, as well as differing amounts of shared variance (22.2% vs. 12.0%). Examination of the standardized canonical coefficients and structure coefficients highlighted differences between gay and bisexual men in variables contributing most to the synthetic predictor and criterion variables. Information about these group differences may be used to tailor selected prevention initiatives for substance use problems among emerging adult sexual minority men.

Keywords:

• Substance use
• multivariate
• sexual minority men
• adversity

Authors contributions

Tubman conceptualized the study, supervised study implementation and data collection. All authors participated in writing the manuscript, data interpretation, text revisions, and approved the final version of the manuscript. All authors agree to be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the content of the manuscript.

Ethical approval

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of American University approved the study that collected the data used in this manuscript. The approval number for this study is IRB-2022-69.

Informed consent

Participants provided active informed consent to participate in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available upon request from the first author.

Additional information

Funding

Data collection for the present study was supported by seed funding from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Psychology at American University.

Notes on contributors

Jonathan G. Tubman

Jonathan G. Tubman, is an applied developmental psychologist and a Professor in the Department of Psychology at American University. His research program focuses on health risk behaviors, substance use and mental health problems among adolescent and emerging adults. Applications of this interdisciplinary program of research include the development and evaluation of developmentally appropriate and culturally competent prevention and intervention programs and the translation of empirically-supported research findings into practice recommendations for front-line practitioners working with vulnerable youth populations.

Jacquie Lee

Jacquie Lee, is a graduate of the master’s program in the Department of Psychology at American University.

Candace Moore

Candace Moore, is a graduate student in the master’s program in the Department of Psychology at American University.

Avital J. Shapiro

Avital J. Shapiro, is a graduate student in the master’s program in the Department of Psychology at American University.