3 - (SYM 8) The Association of Intraminority Stress with Alcohol and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Men: Protective/moderating Role of Community Connectedness and Coping Self-efficacy

Purpose: Sexual minority (SM) populations have a higher prevalence of substance use disorders compared to their heterosexual counterparts. In addition to external stressors, intraminority stress (IMS), status-based stress generated within communities of SM men, has growing evidence to explain mental health disparities in SM populations and may also explain substance use disparities. This study tested the associations of IMS with alcohol, cocaine and cannabis use among SM men and whether these associations depended on community connectedness (CC) and coping self-efficacy (CSE).
Methods: Participants were cisgender SM men (N=170) who completed measures of IMS, CC, CSE, alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis use. Linear regression models examined the cross-sectional effects of IMS, CC, CSE and their interactions on alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis use.
Results: Results demonstrated a significant negative main effect of coping self-efficacy on cocaine use risk (B=-1.56, p=0.042) and a significant interaction effect between IMS and CC on cocaine use, such that at low levels of CC the association between IMS and CC cocaine use was negative (B=-5.56,p=.020). There was a negative main effect of CSE on cannabis use (B=-.93, p</em>=.005). Moreover, there was a significant negative association between CC and cannabis use (B=-2.06, p=.003), indicating higher CC was associated with lower cannabis use. The alcohol use model was nonsignificant, R²=.07, F(5,135)= 2.01, p=.081.
Conclusion: CC and CSE may attenuate the association of IMS with cocaine and cannabis use for cisgender SM men. Strengths-based treatment and prevention programs for SM men may help combat the adverse effects of IMS.