Repeated Measures Analysis of Alcohol Patterns Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study
Date
2018
Authors
Roth, Eric A.
Cui, Zishan
Rich, Ashleigh
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Sereda, Paul
Card, Kiffer
Moore, David
Hogg, Robert S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Substance Use & Misuse
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 - June, 2015. Based on recent crosssectional
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 sub-group 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.
Description
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.
Keywords
Gay and bisexual men, gay bars, Hazardous Drinking, AUDIT, repeated measures analysis, Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
Citation
Roth, E. A., Cui, Z., Rich, A., Lachowsky, N., Sereda, P., Card, K., Moore, D., & Hogg, R. (2018). “Repeated Measures Analysis of Alcohol Patterns Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the Momentum Health Study.” Substance Use & Misuse, 53(5), 816–827. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2017.1388259