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• Most studies investigating the role of neighborhoods in HIV-related outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) exclusively focus on the residential environment. • Spatial mobility was documented with both self-reported survey data and objective GPS data, which provided uncorrelated information. • Almost two-thirds (62.9%) of participants' GPS points were recorded in NYC ZIP code tabulation areas within the highest quartile of HIV prevalence. • Compared to males, it was found that transfemale, genderqueer, and other MSM spent a much higher fraction of their non-home GPS time in high HIV prevalence areas. The purpose of this study was to examine and quantify spatial mobility among HIV-negative young men who have sex with men (YMSM) within and across high prevalence HIV neighborhoods in New York City (NYC). We completed an analysis with global positioning system (GPS) and survey data to quantify spatial mobility for participants enrolled in the P18 Neighborhood Study (analytic n = 211; 83.4%). Spatial mobility was documented with self-reported survey data and objective GPS data, which was uncorrelated. Nearly one-quarter of participants (26.1%) said that they consider the neighborhood in which they currently live to differ from the neighborhood in which they had sex most frequently. In addition, 62.9% of participants' GPS points were recorded in NYC ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within the highest quartile of HIV prevalence. Future studies of YMSM populations should be conducted to examine how environments beyond the residential neighborhood can influence sexual health, which may guide HIV prevention services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rationale Experiences of weightism are associated with reduced psychological quality of life among heterosexual men and women. However, despite noted vulnerability to body image pressures, weightism has not been quantitatively examined among sexual minority men. We tested two hypotheses: first, that Body Mass Index (BMI) and weightism would evidence a curvilinear relationship, such that underweight and overweight men would report experiencing more weightism than men in the "normal" weight range; and second, that a negative association between BMI and quality of life would be explained by experiences of weightism and body dissatisfaction. Method Sexual minority men living in Australia and New Zealand (N = 2733) completed an online survey and provided data on their height, weight, experiences of weightism, body dissatisfaction, and psychological quality of life. Results Participants' BMIs ranged from 14.15 to 68.12 with 3.0% classified as underweight, 50.5% as "normal" weight, 28.0% as overweight, and 17.4% as obese. Weightism was experienced by 38.9% of participants. As predicted, weightism evidenced a curvilinear relationship with BMI, such that underweight and overweight participants reported experiencing more weightism relative to "normal" weight participants. Yet, this curvilinear relationship evidenced a dominant linear component: Overall, weightism markedly increased as BMI increased, and obese participants reported experiencing the most weightism. In addition, we found evidence supporting our hypothesis that men with higher BMIs would report experiencing more weightism and higher body dissatisfaction, and through these variables, reduced quality of life. Adjusted for body dissatisfaction and weightism, the formerly negative association of BMI with psychological quality of life became (weakly) positive. Conclusions Weightism is a salient phenomenon experienced by sexual minority men in smaller and larger bodies with potential direct and indirect adverse effects on psychological quality of life. Whilst BMI and weightism evidenced a curvilinear relationship, the burden of weightism is disproportionately borne by sexual minority men with higher BMIs. Highlights • Weightism was experienced by 39% of sexual minority men. • Weightism evidenced a weakly curvilinear relationship with Body Mass Index (BMI). • In general, as BMIs increased, experiences of weightism markedly increased. • Weightism and body image mediated the link between BMI and quality of life (QoL). • Adjusted for these mediators, the negative link between BMI and QoL became positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial contexts and spatial mobility are important factors of the HIV epidemic and sexually transmitted infections. Using global positioning system (GPS) devices, we examined the associations of objectively measured spatial mobility with sexual risk behaviors among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City. This observational study included a subgroup of 253 HIV-negative MSM from the Project 18 Cohort Study, who participated in the GPS monitoring sub-study. Spatial mobility was measured as (1) distance traveled and (2) activity space size defined as daily path area during 2-week of GPS tracking. We examined the associations of these measures with numbers of male sexual partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) acts during last six months using quasi-Poisson models, adjusting for socio-demographics. Results demonstrated that spatial mobility was positively associated with sexual risk behaviors, for example, with CAI (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.01 for a 10 km increase in distance traveled and IRR = 1.04 for a 1 km2 increase in 50 m-buffer activity space size). Our findings may enhance the understanding of spatial contexts of HIV risk. Future studies should be conducted to examine the mechanisms for the associations between spatial mobility behaviors with sexual risk behaviors as well as the influence of neighborhood characteristics in various neighborhood contexts, which may guide the place-based HIV prevention services. • GPS-based spatial mobility was positively associated with sexual risk behaviors. • Findings confirm the spatial contexts of HIV risks in urban environments. • Future studies may guide the place-based HIV prevention services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]