Pilot Randomized Trial of an Expressive Writing Intervention to Reduce Sexual HIV-Transmission Risk and Substance Use Among Emerging Adult Gay and Bisexual Men

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of expressive writing to reduce HIV-related sexual risk taking and symptoms of drug dependence among emerging adult gay and bisexual men (EAGBM) through linguistic mechanisms involving use of wo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS and behavior 2022-02, Vol.26 (2), p.584-595
Main Authors: Wells, Brooke E., Samrock, Steven, Pawson, Mark, Starks, Tyrel J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anal intercourse
Anal sex
Bisexuality
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Creativity
Dependence
Disease transmission
Drug dependence
Drugs
Emotions
Gays & lesbians
Health Psychology
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Homosexuality
Homosexuality, Male
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious Diseases
Information processing
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Men
Mens health
Original Paper
Pilot Projects
Public Health
Risk behavior
Risk taking
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Sexual Behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Substance abuse
Substance use
Substance-Related Disorders
Writing
Young adults
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Summary:This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of expressive writing to reduce HIV-related sexual risk taking and symptoms of drug dependence among emerging adult gay and bisexual men (EAGBM) through linguistic mechanisms involving use of words associated with cognitive processing (e.g., think, cause), positive emotion (e.g., love, nice), and negative emotion (e.g., hurt, shame). Between 2014 and 2015, EAGBM ( n  = 78; aged 18–29) completed a baseline survey and were randomized to complete three 15-min expressive writing or equivalent control-group writing sessions and follow-up assessments 2 months post-baseline. EAGBM in the expressive writing condition utilized significantly more positive emotion, negative emotion, and cognitive processing words. Path model results indicated the intervention condition resulted in significant reductions in symptoms of drug dependence and frequency of condomless anal sex (CAS) through paths mediated by positive emotion words, and significant increases in CAS through a path mediated by negative emotion words.
ISSN:1090-7165
1573-3254
DOI:10.1007/s10461-021-03413-7