Do Technology Use Characteristics Impact Substance Use Among MSM Using a Geo-Social Networking Application in Los Angeles?

Background & Purpose: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are considerably more likely to use alcohol and other illicit substances (e.g., cocaine and methamphetamine) than the general population. Heavy use of alcohol and other substances is associated with increased health risks. Recent literature suggests that use of geo-social networking applications (GSNA), one technology which MSM use to connect with other MSM, may be associated with increased behavior health risks.. However, literature describing frequency of substance use among MSM using geo-social networking applications, as well as the relationship between GSNA use characteristics and substance use is unknown. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate: 1) to what extent do MSM who use GSNA also use alcohol and other drugs, and 2) what, if any, characteristics of GSNA use predict substance use, controlling for demographic factors, connection with the gay community, and social network normative drug beliefs and behaviors?

Methods: In 2011, 302 MSM (age 18-42) were randomly sampled from Los Angeles, California, utilizing Grindr, a GSNA. Respondents completed a 30-minute online survey. Items focused on demographic information, gay community connection, Grindr use characteristics (i.e., frequency of use rationale for use), egocentric social network, and substance use within the last 30 days (i.e., binge drinking alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines). Four multiple regressions were conducted to test for the impact of Grindr use characteristics on each substance use outcome within the last month.

Results: On average, participants were 30 years old (SD=6.6). Most participants identified their race as either White (51%) or Latino (22%). Almost all participants identified their sexual orientation as either gay (90%) or bisexual (7%).  Substance use characteristics ranged: 59% reporting binge drinking, 38% marijuana use, 14% cocaine use, and 7% methamphetamine use in past month. On average participants reported signing into Grindr more than once a day and that 25% of their social network also used Grindr. Fifty-nine percent of respondents reported using Grindr in order to connect with the gay community, and 10% reported Grindr use in order to find others with whom they can use substances. All substance use models were significant and explained large amounts of the variance in substance use (binge drinking R²=.49, marijuana R²=.38, cocaine R²=20%, and methamphetamine R²=37%). Model findings indicated that Grindr use characteristics are significantly associated with binge drinking (i.e., proportion of network that uses Grindr), cocaine use (i.e., using Grindr to connect with the gay community), and methamphetamine use (i.e., using Grindr to find others to use substances, and proportion of network that uses Grindr). 

Conclusions and Implications: The relationship between GSNA use characteristics and substance use in MSM is complicated and varies by substance. Despite the complexity of relationships, results indicate that GSNA use characteristics, connection to the gay community, and social network substance beliefs and behaviors explain a substantial amount of the variance in substance use among MSM, highlighting a need for further investigation.  Moreover, results demonstrate that mobile technology-based interventions aimed at preventing and reducing drug use among MSM need to be substance-specific.