Racism,
discrimination, homophobia, depression, and post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) fuel the HIV epidemic among many young black and Latino
men, according to a study by Perry Halkitis, director of the Center of Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) at NYU Steinhardt.
Halkitis’ study, “Measurement Model Exploring a Syndemic in Emerging Adult Gay and Bisexual
Men,” was published in the February edition of AIDS and Behavior. These
are the first major findings of Halkitis’ larger research effort, Project-18,
a multi-year research study that follows a racially, ethnically, and
economically diverse cohort of approximately 600 urban HIV-negative
young men. Participants of Project-18 are self-identified as men who
have sex with men (MSM), currently live in New York City, and are
monitored every six months for three years as they transition from
adolescence into young adulthood.
Studies
show that gay, bisexual, and other MSMs account for more than 50 percent
of all infections and more than 50 percent of recent HIV infections in
the U.S., with some 70 percent in urban centers.
Results from this latest analysis support the notion that mental health, drug use, and unprotected sex are inextricably linked.
“The more
burden these men face for being persons of color, economically
disadvantaged, homosexual, foreign born, and simply discriminated
against, impact their mental health,” said Halkitis. “Our additional
analysis found that foreign-born men of lower socioeconomic status
demonstrate a greater likelihood of unprotected sex.”
Halkitis
asserts that more trauma leads to more mental health burdens and
exacerbates risky behavior, such as drug and alcohol abuse and
unprotected sex. “The fact of the matter is that these psychosocial
stressors that gay men experience heighten their vulnerability to HIV,”
Halkitis explained.
Halkitis
received $2.9 million from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH)
National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2009 to begin his study.
While previous studies further conclude that consistent education
efforts will aid in the prevention of spreading the disease among this
population, Halkitis asserts that the research community must tackle the
issue from a psychological and mental health standpoint.
“We take a
holistic approach and believe that health states must be considered
synergistically,” Halkitis explained. “Through this study, what we’ve
done is shown that these health problems – mental health burdens and
risky behavior -- are highly related when it comes to this population of
gay men and their contraction of HIV.”
About the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development prepares students for careers in the arts, education, health, media, and psychology. Since its founding in 1890, the Steinhardt School's mission has been to expand human capacity through public service, global collaboration, research, scholarship, and practice.
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