Psychosocial Needs of YMSM

Psychosocial Needs of HIV+ Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (YMSM)

The proposed study will use both qualitative and quantitative research methods (mixed methods) to gather data that will support the eventual development of interventions for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) living with behaviorally acquired HIV infection. The overall goal of the study is to gain an understanding of the psychosocial/developmental needs of YMSM by focusing on two critical developmental issues-identity development and future life goals.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIV+ YMSM

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 254

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90027
      • Children's Hopsital of Los Angeles
    • San Francisco, California, United States, 94118
      • University of California at San Francisco
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20010
      • Children's National Medical Center
  • Florida
    • Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, 33316
      • Children's Diagnostic and Teatment Center
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33101
      • University of Miami
    • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33606
      • University of South Florida College of Medicine
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • John Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60614
      • Children's Memorial Hospital
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
      • Tulane Medical Center
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
      • University of MD School of Medicine
  • New York
    • Bronx, New York, United States, 10467
      • Montefiore Medical Center
    • New York, New York, United States, 10128
      • Mount Sinai Medical Center
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Tennessee
    • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38105
      • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 24 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male, HIV+ participants from ages 16-24 who have had sex with another male in the past year and accquired HIV behaviorally.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Potential participants must meet all of the following inclusion criteria in order to participate in the study:

• Biologically male at birth and identifies as male at time of study participation;
• HIV-infected as documented by medical record review or verbal verification with referring professional;
• Between the age of 16 years, 0 days to 24 years, 364 days at the time of informed consent/assent;
• HIV infection occurred through sexual or substance use behavior of the participant;
• Ability to understand both written and spoken English; and
• History of at least one sexual encounter involving either anal or oral penetration (either receptive or insertive) with a male partner during the 12 months prior to enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acquired HIV through perinatal infection;
• Transfusion acquired HIV infection;
• Presence of serious psychiatric symptoms (active hallucinations, thought disorder) that would impair participants' ability to complete the study measures;
• Visibly distraught (suicidal, homicidal, exhibiting violent behavior); or
• Intoxicated

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Phase 1; Male, HIV+ participants from ages 16-24 who have had sex with another male in the past year and acquired HIV behaviorally. Participants will be drawn from four participating AMTU sites.
Phase 2; Male, HIV+ participants from ages 16-24 who have had sex with another male in the past year and acquired HIV behaviorally. Participants will be drawn from all fifteen AMTU sites.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
An understanding of the most salient risk factors/stressors and resistance factors/coping mechanisms that impact healthy identity development among YMSM living with HIV.	To be determined in analysis
An understanding of the association between ethnic identity, sexual identity, and identity as a young man living with HIV and the health behaviors of substance use, sexual activity, and adherence to healthcare among YMSM living with HIV.	To be determined in analysis
An understanding of the most salient risk factors/stressors and resistance factors/coping mechanisms that negatively impact the future life goals of YMSM living with HIV.	To be determined in analysis
Identification of additional psychosocial/developmental needs of YMSM living with HIV (in addition to healthy identity development and future life goals).	To be determined in analysis
Development of recommendations for interventions aimed at facilitating healthy identity development, constructing future life goals, and addressing additional psychosocial/developmental needs among YMSM living with HIV.	To be determined in analysis

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Study Chair: Gary W Harper, Adolescent Trials Network

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): July 4, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 28, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2017
• Last Verified: February 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV positive; YMSM; risk factors; coping; identity development; psychosocial needs
• Other Study ID Numbers: ATN 070

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No