Substance Use and Technology: Utilizing Apps to Recruit a Probability Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Background and Purpose: Young men who have sex with men (YMSM; age 18 to 24) report significantly higher rates of substance use compared to their heterosexual peers. Studies examining the psychosocial determinants of substance use for YMSM have historically relied on samples of men recruited from venues that arguably condone substance use (e.g., gay bars). This may artificially inflate substance use prevalence estimates in this community and limit the generalizability of these studies to the full population of YMSM. Further, recent research indicates that YMSM are increasingly using smartphone technology (i.e., geosocial networking applications, GSNA) to find sexual partners and forgoing the use of venues. To date, no study has investigated whether a sample of YMSM drawn from a GSNA differs from a sample recruited through venues. Therefore, the goal of this study is to compare the substance use and psychosocial covariates of substance use of two probability samples of YMSM: a sample recruited using a GSNA, and a sample recruited using venue-based procedures.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey design was utilized with a sample of 136 YMSM recruited in Los Angeles, CA. Half (n = 68) were recruited through venue-based probability sampling procedures and half (n = 68) were recruited using a GSNA-based probability sampling procedures. The GSNA method systematically identified locations for recruitment using spatial analysis of app-user densities in the geographic sampling frame. Sample substance use (e.g., binge drinking, cocaine, methamphetamine), substance use covariates (e.g., discrimination, depression, sensation seeking) and demographics were compared using linear and logistic regression.

Results: Samples differed in demographics (i.e, race/ethnicity, age). Regressions indicated significant differences in substance use prevalence within the last month between the two samples of men. All substance use covariates were significantly associated with at least one of the measures of substance use. No significant differences in psychosocial covariates of substance use emerged between samples.

Conclusions and Implications: Results indicate that recruitment method has an impact on substance use prevalence levels for YMSM. Although differences in prevalence emerged, findings that psychosocial covariates of substance use do not differ between samples builds support for population generalizability. This study also presents evidence for the feasibility of using technology to recruit probability samples of YMSM. This method is especially applicable to areas where venues are not readily accessible (e.g., rural areas, and international contexts where being a sexual minority is stigmatized). Future research should consider application of these methods outside of an urban area to investigate feasibility in this context.