Bi+ Men's Explanations for Substance Use Disparities in Their Community.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Bisexual (Bi+) men exhibit higher rates of alcohol and drug use compared to heterosexual and gay men.
• The minority stress model is a primary framework for understanding these disparities, but its alignment with bi+ men's perspectives is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore bi+ young men's perspectives on the reasons behind higher substance use in their community.
• To assess the consistency of these perspectives with the minority stress model.

Main Methods:

• Online survey administered to 69 bisexual (bi+) young men (ages 18-29, 29% transgender).
• Thematic analysis of open-ended responses regarding reasons for higher alcohol and drug use among bi+ men.

Main Results:

• Seven themes emerged, categorized into unique sexual orientation experiences (bi+ discrimination, internalized stigma, community aspects), disproportionate general risk factors (trauma, mental health), and motivational factors (lowering inhibitions, sexual contexts).
• Specific factors like using substances to feel comfortable having sex with men were highlighted.
• Findings largely support the minority stress model but also identify under-researched contributing factors.

Conclusions:

• The minority stress model provides a relevant framework for understanding substance use among bi+ men.
• Unique stressors, including bi+ discrimination and internalized stigma, significantly contribute to substance use.
• Further research should explore nuanced motivational factors and the role of community in substance use among bi+ men.