TY - JOUR
AU - N. Q. Fenn
AU - B. G. Rogers
AU - P. A. Chan
AU - A. Paradis-Burnett
AU - S. Napoleon
AU - R. Holcomb
AU - D. Berganza
AU - Lane Smith
AU - Daley Ndoye
AU - M. M. Pinkston
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Sexual minority men (SMM; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men) report higher rates of substance use compared to other populations. Social connectedness is a critical component for promoting and maintaining recovery from substance use disorders. However, the degree of social connectedness among SMM who report substance use is largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: We examined substance use, social connectedness (past 30-d participation in formal recovery support, past 30-d interaction with supportive family/friends, relationship satisfaction, and types of support) and mental health among SMM at the time of their enrollment in a behavioral substance use program from September 2019 to October 2021. RESULTS: Of the107 SMM, 80% of the sample reported past 30-d illicit substance use, with methamphetamine representing the most commonly reported drug used (53%). Participants used a variety of social connections for support, including self-help groups (44% voluntary; 5% religious-affiliated; 20% other) and family/friends (81%). Importantly, 15% reported they had no one to turn to when having trouble and 36% were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their relationships. Participants who endorsed significant depressive (58%) and anxiety (70%) symptoms were more likely to endorse relationship dissatisfaction than participants who did not endorse symptoms (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of SMM enrolled in a substance use recovery program expressed relationship dissatisfaction, particularly those struggling with depression or anxiety. Future research and programming should examine ways of leveraging existing social connectedness or forging new social supports to enhance mental health and substance use recovery for SMM using substances.
AD - Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.; Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA.; Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.; Project Weber/RENEW, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Lifespan Physicians Group, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
AN - 37818846
BT - Subst Use Misuse
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 2
DO - 10.1080/10826084.2023.2267641
DP - NLM
ET - 20231228
IS - 2
JF - Subst Use Misuse
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Sexual minority men (SMM; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men) report higher rates of substance use compared to other populations. Social connectedness is a critical component for promoting and maintaining recovery from substance use disorders. However, the degree of social connectedness among SMM who report substance use is largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: We examined substance use, social connectedness (past 30-d participation in formal recovery support, past 30-d interaction with supportive family/friends, relationship satisfaction, and types of support) and mental health among SMM at the time of their enrollment in a behavioral substance use program from September 2019 to October 2021. RESULTS: Of the107 SMM, 80% of the sample reported past 30-d illicit substance use, with methamphetamine representing the most commonly reported drug used (53%). Participants used a variety of social connections for support, including self-help groups (44% voluntary; 5% religious-affiliated; 20% other) and family/friends (81%). Importantly, 15% reported they had no one to turn to when having trouble and 36% were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their relationships. Participants who endorsed significant depressive (58%) and anxiety (70%) symptoms were more likely to endorse relationship dissatisfaction than participants who did not endorse symptoms (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of SMM enrolled in a substance use recovery program expressed relationship dissatisfaction, particularly those struggling with depression or anxiety. Future research and programming should examine ways of leveraging existing social connectedness or forging new social supports to enhance mental health and substance use recovery for SMM using substances.
PY - 2024
SN - 1082-6084 (Print); 1082-6084
SP - 258
EP - 262+
ST - Characterizing Social Connectedness and Associated Mental Health Symptoms among Sexual Minority Men Enrolled in a Substance Use Recovery Support Program
T1 - Characterizing Social Connectedness and Associated Mental Health Symptoms among Sexual Minority Men Enrolled in a Substance Use Recovery Support Program
T2 - Subst Use Misuse
TI - Characterizing Social Connectedness and Associated Mental Health Symptoms among Sexual Minority Men Enrolled in a Substance Use Recovery Support Program
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1080/10826084.2023.2267641
VL - 59
VO - 1082-6084 (Print); 1082-6084
Y1 - 2024
ER -