Social network characteristics and sexual risk taking among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of young, urban men who have sex with men

Background: Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are over-represented among HIV/AIDS cases with stark racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection. However, differences in individual-level risk behaviors do not fully account for the racial/ethnic disparity in HIV infection. As such, the objective of this study was to examine associations between social network characteristics and sexual risk taking behaviors among racially/ethnically diverse young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Methods: Egocentric network data were collected at the baseline visit of a prospective cohort study of YMSM (n=501) recruited in New York City from 2009–2011. Using these data, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined associations between social network characteristics and sexual risk taking behaviors among Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White YMSM. Results: In bivariate analysis, there were key differences in network size, composition, communication frequency and average relationship duration by race/ethnicity. In multivariable analyses, after controlling for individual level sociodemographic, psychosocial and relationship factors, having a sexual partner in one's social network was associated with sexual risk taking for both Hispanic/Latino (AOR=3.90) and White YMSM (AOR=4.93). Conclusions: These findings warrant further examination of similarities and differences in key network characteristics across racial/ethnic groups to allow for a better understanding of the extant mechanisms for provision of peer based HIV related support to racially/ethnically diverse YMSM at risk for HIV.