Online Program

336757
Determinants of onset and persistence of intimate partner violence among young men who have sex with men over time: The P18 Cohort Study


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 5:05 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.

Christopher Stults, MS, LMHC, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), New York University, New York, NY
Farzana Kapadia, PhD MPH, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY
Perry Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant public health problem among young men who have sex with men (YMSM).  Experiences of IPV are also associated with increased HIV risk.  Despite this, few studies have examined onset of IPV or factors associated with onset or persistence of IPV among YMSM. 

Methods: The present study examines factors associated with (1) onset of new experiences of IPV among those not reporting IPV at baseline and (2) persistence of IPV among n=600 YMSM (age 18-19 at baseline) enrolled in a prospective cohort study in New York City.  Participants, who completed 7 waves of semi-annual data collection over a 36-month period, provided information on experiences of emotional/verbal, physical, and sexual IPV.  We examined salient sociodemographic characteristics, as well as behavioral and relationship-level factors, for their association with (1) onset of IPV and (2) persistence of IPV over time. 

Results: Of those not reporting any prior experiences of IPV at baseline, 24% reported onset of IPV during the study period.  Of those reporting IPV at baseline, 54% reported persistence of IPV between baseline and follow-up.  Onset of IPV was independently associated with race/ethnicity, whereas reporting IPV at baseline was independently associated with persistence of IPV (AOR=3.4). 

Conclusions: These findings support the need for IPV screening and support services that are specifically tailored to the needs of YMSM experiencing IPV.  Further, prevention and intervention efforts targeting YMSM are warranted, as experiences of violence are associated with increases in HIV-associated risk behaviors.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the association between early experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) with experiences of IPV later life among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Discuss the relationship between experiences of IPV and HIV risk among YMSM. Identify potential application of findings, including early IPV screening and intervention, specifically targeting YMSM.

Keyword(s): HIV Risk Behavior, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at New York University with over ten years of experience in psychological and health-related clinical and research experience.
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.