1 - (SYM 52) Exploring Coping Styles as a Moderator of the Association Between Negative Affect and Hypersexual Behavior in Stimulant-using Men Who Have Sex with Men

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) who use stimulants in the context of sex experience significant psychological and sexual health disparities compared to their non-stimulant using peers. Although research shows that MSM who use stimulants consistently report greater negative affect (NA) and sexual risk-taking behaviors compared to their MSM peers who do not use stimulants, and many MSM who engage in hypersexual behavior do so as a strategy to attenuate NA, more research is needed to identify psychological factors that may affect these associations. The current analysis examined the moderating effects of coping style on the relations between NA and the components of hypersexual behavior among stimulant-using MSM.

Methods: This study examined baseline data from an RCT of a 10-week behavioral intervention to reduce depression, substance use, and sexual risk behavior for HIV-negative MSM (N = 215). Participants completed an assessment that included measures of NA, coping styles, and hypersexual behavior. We constructed multiple linear regression models to examine associations between NA and hypersexual behavior, as well as three potential coping style moderators (problem-focused (PF), emotion-focused (EF), and avoidant). We used a similar approach to assess the relations for meeting the cutoff criterion for hypersexual disorder (score of 20).

Results: Most participants identified as gay (78.8%) and were between 18-67 years old (M = 39.55, SD = 11.33). Almost two-thirds identified as White, and 34% with a racial minority identity; 38.7% identified as Hispanic/Latino. NA was significantly associated with hypersexual behavior (B = 0.28, p < 0.001) and with screening in for hypersexual disorder (Exp(B) = 2.52, p < 0.001). We observed a mixed pattern of results in the moderation analyses. There was a significant moderating effect of PF coping (B = -0.53, p = 0.04) on the relationship between NA and SC such that higher levels of PF buffered the association between NA and SC that the moderating effect of EF coping (B = -0.58, p = 0.05) trended towards significance.

Discussion: Our analysis highlights how NA and adaptive coping may be important cognitive and behavioral intervention targets for addressing hypersexual behavior among stimulant-using MSM. Future research should continue to focus on disentangling the complex relations between NA, coping styles, and hypersexual behavior among stimulant-using MSM, a subgroup at increased susceptibility to poor psychosocial and sexual health outcomes.