SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Among sexual minority men, young Black sexual minority men are the most disproportionately impacted by HIV,
with the majority of new infections among sexual minority men occurring among this group. Intimate partner
violence (IPV) is one of the most understudied factors that may exacerbate these disparities. Little is known about the
impact of substance use and IPV on HIV care continuum (CC) outcomes and HIV transmission risk behaviors among
young Black sexual minority men with HIV (YBSMM+). Both IPV and substance use leading to IPV may help explain
poorer CC engagement among YBSMM+ and are likely to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having
devastating health and economic impacts. The COVID-19 pandemic is also likely to interfere with CC engagement
and viral suppression. The research that we propose is designed to overcome these gaps and limitations, and to
identify modifiable intervention targets for strengthening the CC during times of acute psychosocial and economic
stress. We propose to use existing data and to collect new data from the United Black Element+ project (UBE+; R01
MH102171). We will use structural equation modeling to explore the associations between substance use and IPV and
their impact on HIV care engagement, viral suppression, condomless anal sex, and to determine if distinct forms of
resilience (global resiliency, coping skills, and social support) buffer associations between these relationships among
YBSMM+ in the U.S. South. This study can shed new light on the associations between substance use, IPV and CC
outcomes and risk and will support the submission of an intervention development grant (R34) to develop a resiliency
and advocacy-based intervention that reduces the impact of substance use and IPV on CC engagement and retention
among YBSMM+. The project’s focus on the role that resiliency factors may play in moderating harmful effects of
substance abuse and IPV among YBSMM+ is innovative. This research can inform the development and adaptation
of substance use, IPV, and CC interventions for YBSMM+.
