Social Network Dynamics, HIV, and Risk Reduction Among Younger Black MSM

描述(由申请人提供)：这项研究计划拨款申请(R01)要求资金进行基本调查，在社区样本(16-29岁)的年轻黑人男性(YBMSM)中性药物使用的情况下，社会网络如何纵向影响风险和降低风险的做法，以确定干预措施的临界点，以减少艾滋病毒传播。YBMSM嵌入了不同种类的黑人社区。从青年男主播个人的角度来看，他的社交网络往往包括密友，如主要的伴侣、亲戚和朋友，他们可能会对他的行为和伴侣的选择产生支持或敌对的影响(S)。随着时间的推移，这些朋友中的许多人可能会在一个人的网络中的非性部分和性部分之间交叉。此外，许多其他结构和机构，如舞厅社区、拘留中心/监狱和互联网社交网站，塑造了基督教青年会的网络和规范。YBMSM如何在这些丰富和动态的社会环境中定位，以及它们的社交网络对性伴侣选择、与性/毒品相关的做法以及与特定伴侣的降低风险行为具有相当大的影响，直到最近才开始探索。我们的分析方法侧重于应用于YBMSM的奥尔巴哈“社会驱动因素”模型的组成部分，特别关注这个团队能够很好地研究的两个组成部分：规范和网络。这些因素塑造了个人的行为和实践，受到性药物使用等情景因素的影响。在前期工作的基础上，我们发现1)危险行为(UAI、性吸毒、群体性行为)的二元混合；2)社会网络成员的影响；3)非性社会网络的构成与横断面分析中的风险和生物医学预防干预有关。然而，到目前为止，网络和其他导致BMSM感染艾滋病毒的“社会驱动因素”之间的因果关系一直难以捉摸。因此，利用3波纵向队列方法，我们的目标是：1)描述16-29岁青年男男性接触者的社会网络动态，并估计特定网络属性(例如，知己组成和组件大小)与随后的风险/风险降低行为之间的关系，包括它们与各种社会结构和机构的交互作用；2)检验该样本及其扩展网络中随时间的社会网络、规范、风险/风险降低做法与HIV/STI感染之间的关系；3)确定在多大程度上，性吸毒等情境因素在多大程度上调节社会网络特征、规范和风险/风险降低做法之间的关系；以及4)探索得知自己是艾滋病毒阳性者如何影响社会网络、规范和减少风险的做法。这项研究是发展以科学为基础的网络干预措施的必要步骤，该网络干预措施可以补充针对不同的基督教青年会群体及其扩展的网络的组合干预措施。 公共卫生相关性：这项研究计划拨款申请资金，在社区抽样的16-29岁的年轻黑人男性性行为(YBMSM)中，对社会网络如何纵向影响风险和降低风险的做法进行基本调查，以确定干预措施的关键点，以减少艾滋病毒的传播。其目的是了解YBMSM是如何在丰富和动态的社会环境中定位的，以及他们的社会网络对性伴侣选择、性/药物相关实践以及与特定伴侣的降低风险行为具有相当大的影响。这项研究是发展以科学为基础的网络干预措施的必要步骤，该网络干预措施可以补充针对不同的基督教青年会群体及其扩展的网络的组合干预措施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research program grant application (R01) requests funds to conduct basic investigation of how social networks affect risk and risk reduction practices longitudinally in the context of sex-drug use within a community-based sample of younger Black men (16-29) who have sex with men (YBMSM) in order to identify critical points for intervention to reduce HIV transmission. YBMSM are embedded within heterogeneous Black communities. From the perspective of an individual YBMSM, his social network often include close confidants such as primary partners, relatives and friends who may exert supportive or antagonistic influences on his behavior and choice of partner(s). Many of these friends may crossover between the non-sexual and sexual components of one's network over time. Additionally, numerous other structures and institutions such as the ballroom community, detention centers/jails and internet social networking sites shape YBMSM networks and norms. How YBMSM are positioned within these rich and dynamic social environments and the considerable influence their social networks have on sex partner selection, sexual/drug related practices and risk-reduction behavior with specific partners has only recently begun to be explored. Our analytic approach focuses on components of the Auerbach 'social drivers' model applied to YBMSM, with particular attention to two components that this team is well positioned to study: norms and networks. These factors shape individuals' behaviors and practices modulated by situational factors such as sex-drug use. Based upon our preliminary work, we found that 1) dyadic mixing by risk behaviors (UAI, sex-drug use, group sex); 2) influences from social network members; and 3) composition of non-sexual social networks are associated with risk and biomedical prevention interventions in cross-sectional analyses of YBMSM. Thus far however, causal associations between networks and other 'social drivers' of HIV infection among BMSM, have been elusive. Accordingly, utilizing a 3 wave longitudinal cohort approach we aim to: 1) Describe the dynamics of social networks among YBMSM ages 16-29, and estimate the relationships between specific network attributes (e.g., confidant composition and component size) and subsequent risk/risk reduction behaviors, including their interaction with various social structures and institutions; 2) Examine the relationships between social networks, norms, risk/risk reduction practices and HIV/STI infection over time among this sample and their extended networks; 3) Determine the extent to which situational factors such as sex-drug use mediates the relationship between social network characteristics, norms and risk/risk reduction practices over time; and 4) Explore how learning that one is HIV positive affects social networks, norms and risk/risk reduction practices. This research is a necessary step in the development of scientifically-based network interventions that can complement combination interventions targeted to diverse YBMSM groups and their extended networks. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research program grant application requests funds to conduct basic investigation of how social networks affect risk and risk reduction practices longitudinally in the context of sex-drug use within a community-based sample of younger Black men (16-29) who have sex with men (YBMSM) in order to identify critical points for intervention to reduce HIV transmission. The aim is to understand how YBMSM are positioned within rich and dynamic social environments and the considerable influence their social networks have on sex partner selection, sexual/drug related practices and risk-reduction behavior with specific partners. This research is a necessary step in the development of scientifically-based network interventions that can complement combination interventions targeted to diverse YBMSM groups and their extended networks.