ResearchProjects

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) continue to experience health disparities with greater frequency than their heterosexual peers. These disparities include increased incidence of substance abuse, HIV infection, and various mental health burdens. The investigators have been studying a group of YMSM since 2009, aiming to learn more about them and their health, how they are affected by the various risk factors in their lives, and how these may interact to create a syndemic. A syndemic is the concentration and deleterious interaction of two or more diseases and/or other health conditions in a population, especially as a consequence of social conditions that promote disease clustering.

The study follows these young men as they mature to ages 25-26, and will add a more comprehensive understanding of the health of this new generation of YMSM by describing their social and sexual networks, and examining the relationships among structural, social, psychosocial, and behavioral factors. In addition, they will describe the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among YMSM, and determine whether physical, relational, and psychosocial factors explain STI acquisition. The findings will help increase knowledge about the structural, social, psychosocial, and behavioral factors that often undermine the overall health and well-being of young gay men.

For more information, see CHIBPS.

Abstract on NIH RePORTER

Cook SH, Wood EP, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2024).
Adult attachment anxiety is protective against the effects of internalized homophobia on condomless sex among young sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Sex Research, 61 (5), 742-749. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2167192. PMCID: PMC10390643.

Huber BD, Kim B, Chaix B, Regan SD, Duncan DT (2022).
Objective and subjective neighborhood crime associated with poor sleep among young sexual minority men: A GPS study
Journal of Urban Health, 99 (6), 1115-1126. doi: 10.1007/s11524-022-00674-y. PMCID: PMC9727059.

Cook SH, Slopen N, Scarimbolo L, Mirin N, Wood EP, Rosendale N, Chunara R, Burke CW, Halkitis PN (2022).
Discrimination is associated with C-reactive protein among young sexual minority men
Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 45 (4), 649-657. doi: 10.1007/s10865-022-00307-4.

Cook SH, Wood EP, Jaiswal J, Castro R, Calderon L, Qi Y, Llaneza A (2021).
Assessing perceptions of broad consent concerning biological specimen collection in a cohort of young sexual minority men
Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50 (7), 3313-3321. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-01964-3. PMCID: PMC8493942.

Khan MR, Kapadia F, Geller A, Mazumdar M, Scheidell JD, Krause KD, Martino RJ, Cleland CM, Dyer TV, Ompad DC, Halkitis PN (2021).
Racial and ethnic disparities in “stop-and-frisk” experience among young sexual minority men in New York City
PLoS One, 16 (8), e0256201. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256201. PMCID: PMC8389488.

Duncan DT, Regan SD, Park SH, Goedel WC, Kim B, Barton SC, Halkitis PN, Chaix B (2020).
Assessment of spatial mobility among young men who have sex with men within and across high HIV prevalence neighborhoods in New York City: The P18 neighborhood study
Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology, 35, 100356. doi: 10.1016/j.sste.2020.100356. PMCID: PMC7609976.

Kim B, Regan SD, Callander D, Goedel WC, Chaix B, Duncan DT (2020).
Associations of spatial mobility with sexual risk behaviors among young men who have sex with men in New York City: A global positioning system (GPS) study
Social Science and Medicine, 258, 113060. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113060. PMCID: PMC7373175.

Jaiswal J, LoSchiavo C, Maiolatesi A, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2020).
Misinformation, gendered perceptions, and low healthcare provider communication around HPV and the HPV vaccine among young sexual minority men in New York City: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Community Health, 45 (4), 702-711. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00784-w. PMCID: PMC7774381.

Halkitis PN, Valera P, LoSchiavo CE, Goldstone SE, Kanztanou M, Maiolatesi AJ, Ompad DC, Greene RE, Kapadia F (2019).
Human papillomavirus vaccination and infection in young sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
AIDS Patient Care and STDS, 33 (4), 149-156. doi: 10.1089/apc.2018.0276. PMCID: PMC6459271.

Kapadia F, D'Avanzo PA, Cook SH, Barton S, Halkitis SN, Halkitis PN (2019).
Positive development and changes in self-rated health among young sexual minority males: The P18 cohort study
Behavioral Medicine, 45 (4), 304-313. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2018.1536644. PMCID: PMC6639145.

Ristuccia A, LoSchiavo C, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2019).
Motivations for alcohol use to intoxication among young adult gay, bisexual, and other MSM in New York City: The P18 Cohort Study
Addictive Behaviors, 89, 44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.014. PMCID: PMC6240393.

Jaiswal J, Griffin M, Singer SN, Greene RE, Acosta ILZ, Kaudeyr SK, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2018).
Structural barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis use among young sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
Current HIV Research, 16 (3), 237-249. doi: 10.2174/1570162X16666180730144455. PMCID: PMC8893045.

Halkitis PN, Jaiswal J, Griffin-Tomas M, Krause KD, D'Avanzo P, Kapadia F (2018).
Beliefs about the end of AIDS, concerns about PrEP functionality, and perceptions of HIV risk as drivers of PrEP use in urban sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
AIDS and Behavior, 22 (11), 3705-3717. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2218-y. PMCID: PMC10976398.

Griffin M, Krause KD, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2018).
A qualitative investigation of healthcare engagement among young adult gay men in New York City: A P18 cohort substudy
LGBT Health, 5 (6), 368-374. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2017.0015. PMCID: PMC6916523.

Ristuccia A, LoSchiavo C, Halkitis PN, Kapadia F (2018).
Sexualised drug use among sexual minority young adults in the United States: The P18 cohort study
International Journal of Drug Policy, 55, 207-214. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.014. PMCID: PMC5970984.

Greene RE, Luong A, Barton SC, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2018).
Assessing gaps in the HIV care continuum in young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 29 (3), 475-478. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2017.12.004. PMCID: PMC5911404.

Ompad DC, Palamar JJ, Krause KD, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2018).
Reliability and validity of a material resources scale and its association with depression among young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
American Journal of Men's Health, 12 (5), 1384-1397. doi: 10.1177/1557988316651206. PMCID: PMC6142116.

Halkitis PN, Cook SH, Ristuccia A, Despotoulis J, Levy MD, Bates FC, Kapadia F (2018).
Psychometric analysis of the Life Worries Scale for a new generation of sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
Health Psychology, 37 (1), 89-101. doi: 10.1037/hea0000537. PMCID: PMC5764782.

Halkitis PN, Bub K, Stults CB, Bates FC, Kapadia F (2018).
Latent growth curve modeling of non-injection drug use and condomless sexual behavior from ages 18 to 21 in gay, bisexual, and other YMSM: The P18 cohort study
Substance Use and Misuse, 53 (1), 101-113. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1334067. PMCID: PMC6085877.

Duncan DT, Kapadia F, Kirchner TR, Goedel WC, Brady WJ, Halkitis PN (2017).
Acceptability of ecological momentary assessment among young men who have sex with men
Journal of LGBT Youth, 14 (4), 436-444. doi: 10.1080/19361653.2017.1365038. PMCID: PMC6034697.

D'Avanzo PA, Barton SC, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2017).
Personality and its relation to mental and psychosocial health in emerging adult sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
Behavioral Medicine, 43 (3), 191-199. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2017.1330079. PMCID: PMC6109257.

Abbott CE, Greene RE, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2017).
A case of rectal ureaplasma infection and implications for testing in young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
LGBT Health, 4 (2), 161-163. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2016.0030. PMCID: PMC5374866.

Halkitis PN, Griffin-Tomas M, Levy MD, Greene RE, Kapadia F (2017).
Associations of perceived parental psychopathology with mental health burden and lifetime drug use in gay, bisexual, and other YMSM: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Homosexuality, 64 (11), 1596-1616. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1249734.

Storholm ED, Satre DD, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2016).
Depression, compulsive sexual behavior, and sexual risk-taking among urban young gay and bisexual men: The P18 cohort study
Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45 (6), 1431-1441. doi: 10.1007/s10508-015-0566-5. PMCID: PMC4769690.

Krause KD, Kapadia F, Ompad DC, D'Avanzo PA, Duncan DT, Halkitis PN (2016).
Early life psychosocial stressors and housing instability among young sexual minority men: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Urban Health, 93 (3), 511-525. doi: 10.1007/s11524-016-0049-6. PMCID: PMC4899333.

D'Avanzo PA, Halkitis PN, Yu K, Kapadia F (2016).
Demographic, mental health, behavioral and psychosocial factors associated with cigarette smoking status among young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
LGBT Health, 3 (5), 379-386. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2015.0128. PMCID: PMC5073225.

Siconolfi DE, Kapadia F, Moeller RW, Eddy JA, Kupprat SA, Kingdon MJ, Halkitis PN (2016).
Body dissatisfaction in a diverse sample of young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45 (5), 1227-1239. doi: 10.1007/s10508-015-0592-3. PMCID: PMC4791207.

Stults CB, Javdani S, Greenbaum CA, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2016).
Intimate partner violence and sex among young men who have sex with men
Journal of Adolescent Health, 58 (2), 215-222. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.008. PMCID: PMC4724381.

Duncan DT, Kapadia F, Regan SD, Goedel WC, Levy MD, Barton SC, Friedman SR, Halkitis PN (2016).
Feasibility and acceptability of global positioning system (GPS) methods to study the spatial contexts of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among young men who have sex with men in New York City: A P18 cohort sub-study
PLoS One, 11 (2), e0147520. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147520. PMCID: PMC4769145.

Kapadia F, Bub K, Barton S, Stults CB, Halkitis PN (2015).
Longitudinal trends in sexual behaviors without a condom among sexual minority youth: The P18 cohort study
AIDS and Behavior, 19 (12), 2152-2161. doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1175-y. PMCID: PMC4610826.

Halkitis PN, Kapadia F, Bub KL, Barton S, Moreira AD, Stults CB (2015).
A longitudinal investigation of syndemic conditions among young gay, bisexual, and other MSM: The P18 cohort study
AIDS and Behavior, 19 (6), 970-980. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0892-y. PMCID: PMC4362859.

Halkitis P, Kapadia F, Ompad D (2015).
Incidence of HIV infection in young gay, bisexual, and other YMSM: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 69 (4), 466-473. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000616. PMCID: PMC4484878.

Ompad DC, Kapadia F, Bates FC, Blachman-Forshay J, Halkitis PN (2015).
Racial/ethnic differences in the association between arrest and unprotected anal sex among young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Urban Health, 92 (4), 717-732. doi: 10.1007/s11524-014-9931-2. PMCID: PMC4524845.

Perez-Figueroa RE, Kapadia F, Barton SC, Eddy JA, Halkitis PN (2015).
Acceptability of PrEP uptake among racially/ethnically diverse young men who have sex with men: The P18 study
AIDS Education and Prevention, 27 (2), 112-125. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2015.27.2.112. PMCID: PMC4550097.

Stults CB, Javdani S, Greenbaum CA, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2015).
Intimate partner violence and substance use risk among young men who have sex with men: The P18 cohort study
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 154, 54-62. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.06.008. PMCID: PMC4536185.

Duncan DT, Kapadia F, Halkitis PN (2014).
Examination of spatial polygamy among young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in New York City: The P18 cohort study
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11 (9), 8962-8983. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110908962. PMCID: PMC4199000.

Halkitis PN, Siconolfi DE, Stults CB, Barton S, Bub K, Kapadia F (2014).
Modeling substance use in emerging adult gay, bisexual, and other YMSM across time: The P18 cohort study
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 145, 209-216. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.016. PMCID: PMC4254590.

Meyers K, Rodriguez K, Moeller RW, Gratch I, Markowitz M, Halkitis PN (2014).
High interest in a long-acting injectable formulation of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in young men who have sex with men in NYC: A P18 cohort substudy
PLoS One, 9 (12), e114700. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114700. PMCID: PMC4263701.

Cook SH, Halkitis PN, Kapadia F (2018).
Relationship cognitions and longitudinal trajectories of sexual risk behavior among young gay and bisexual men: The P18 cohort study
Journal of Health Psychology, 23 (14), 1884-1894. doi: 10.1177/1359105316671187. PMCID: PMC5563498.

Gay, Bisexual, and Other Young MSM in NYC: Syndemic of Substance Use, Mental Health, and HIV Risk
January 2014