Grant: Operating Grant

Bisexual men, despite belonging to a group at high risk for HIV, have received little empirical scrutiny. The limited data available suggest that, relative to gay men, bisexual men are at increased risk for HIV. However, research exploring HIV risk determinants in men who have sex with men has failed to explore the unique psychosocial issues of bisexual men and how those factors are related to HIV risk. Using minority stress theory and syndemics as theoretical frameworks, this project will explore the associations between various aspects of minority stress specific to bisexual men (i.e., internalized binegativity, feelings of illegitimacy, anticipated binegativity, lack of bisexual identity affirmation, and anti-bisexual prejudice), mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and self-esteem), substance use, and risk factors for HIV (i.e., multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal and/or vaginal intercourse). The results will shed important light on the unique determinants of HIV risk among bisexual men and have implications for developing HIV prevention methods targeted specially at this high-risk population.