Perceived Social Support, Problematic Drug Use Behaviors, and Depression Among Prescription Drugs-Misusing Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

• Author: William D. Kernan,Yesenia Montalvo,Stephen E. Lankenau,Corey H. Basch,Aleksandar Kecojevic
• Date: 01 April 2019
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042619829246
• Published date: 01 April 2019
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042619829246

Journal of Drug Issues

2019, Vol. 49(2) 324 –337

© The Author(s) 2019

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/0022042619829246

journals.sagepub.com/home/jod

Article

Perceived Social Support,

Problematic Drug Use Behaviors,

and Depression Among

Prescription Drugs-Misusing Young

Men Who Have Sex With Men

Aleksandar Kecojevic1, Corey H. Basch1, William D. Kernan1,

Yesenia Montalvo1, and Stephen E. Lankenau2

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of perceived social support with problematic drug use

behaviors and depression among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). A diverse

sample of 191 substance-using YMSM (aged 18-29 years) reported on perceived social

support, high-risk drug use behaviors (i.e., polydrug use and use of drugs before sex in the

past 6 months, and lifetime injection drug use), and depression. Associations were examined

using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Participants receiving higher levels of

family social support were at lower odds of reporting polydrug use, drug use before sex,

and depressive symptomology. Individuals with higher levels of friends’ social support were

at lower odds of reporting polydrug use, drug use before sex, and depression. Participants

receiving higher levels of support from a special other were at lower odds of reporting

depression. Intervention efforts should address YMSM’s capacity to build supportive

relationships and obtain adequate social support.

Keywords

YMSM, substance use and abuse, social support, mental health

Introduction

Previous literature supports the notion that young men who have sex with men (YMSM)

experience high rates of homophobia, prejudice, family disapproval, social isolation, stress,

depression, and discrimination (Frost, Lehavot, & Meyer, 2015; Kipke et al., 2007; Meyer,

2003; Traube, Schrager, Holloway, Weiss, & Kipke, 2013; Wong, Kipke, & Weiss, 2008).

Often these adverse experiences co-occur, contributing to negative health outcomes among

YMSM, including substance use and risky sexual behavior (Herrick, Stall, Egan, Schrager, &

Kipke, 2014; Stall et al., 2003). For example, exposure to childhood abuse, intimate partner

violence, minority-related discrimination, depression, and/or stress increases the risk of drug

1William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, USA

2Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Corresponding Author:

Aleksandar Kecojevic, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd, University Hall 369, Wayne, NJ 07866, USA.

Email: kecojevica@wpunj.edu

829246JODXXX10.1177/0022042619829246Journal of Drug IssuesKecojevic et al.

research-article2019