2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

332144
More than Grindr: A comparison of MSM who use Grindr, other apps, or no apps – Implications for health promotion and disease prevention


Monday, November 2, 2015

Christina J. Sun, PhD, MS, School of Community Health, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Erin L. Sutfin, PhD, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Laura Bachmann, MD, MPH, Infectious Diseases Section, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Jason Stowers, AAS, Triad Health Project, Greensboro, NC
Cynthia Miller, Division of Public Health Sciences/Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC
Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Social and sexual networking mobile apps designed for men who have sex with men (MSM), such as Grindr, are popular ways to connect with MSM who face health disparities. However, research has focused almost exclusively on Grindr; little is known about how MSM users of other apps or non-users may differ. This study examined differences between MSM who do and do not use Grindr.

Participants, recruited through chat rooms, completed an anonymous online survey between September 2013 and December 2013 and reported which 11 social and sexual networking apps they had used in the past month. We classified them as either using Grindr; using apps, but not Grindr; or not using apps. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the association between app use and HIV risk and substance use.

The mean age of participants was 41 (n=457); 82% were White, and 86% identified as bisexual (41%) or gay (46%). One-fifth were Grindr users; 30%, non-Grindr app users; and 50%, non-app users. After adjusting for sociodemographics significantly associated with app use (i.e., age, race, geographic area, “outness,” sexual identity), Grindr users were more likely to report an HIV positive serostatus (p<.001) and substance use (tobacco, poppers, recreational prescription drugs, p<.01). Non-app and non-Grindr app users were more likely to report inconsistent condom use (p<.01).

There are differences between those who do and do not use apps. These findings suggest important and different ways to promote health for this diverse population. Future research is also needed to better understand differences identified.

Learning Areas:

Program planning
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the differences in sociodemographic characteristics, HIV risk, and substance use behaviors among MSM who use or do not use social and sexual networking mobile apps Identify health promotion and disease prevention opportunities to reach MSM at risk for a variety of health concerns

Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest School of Medicine. My research focuses on health disparities in LGBT populations, including leveraging new media technology for interventions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3309.1: Relevant LGBT Topics 4