A social network-informed latent class analysis of patterns of substance use, sexual behavior, and mental health: Social network study iii, winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

S. Hopfer, X. Tan and J.L. Wylie

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 5, 834-839

Abstract: Objectives. We assessed whether a meaningful set of latent risk profiles could be identified in an inner-city population through individual and network characteristics of substance use, sexual behaviors, and mental health status. Methods. Data came from 600 participants in Social Network Study III, conducted in 2009 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify risk profiles and, with covariates, to identify predictors of class. Results. A 4-class model of risk profiles fit the data best: (1) solitary users reported polydrug use at the individual level, but low probabilities of substance use or concurrent sexual partners with network members; (2) social-allsubstance users reported polydrug use at the individual and network levels; (3) social-noninjection drug users reported less likelihood of injection drug and solvent use; (4) low-risk users reported low probabilities across substances. Unstable housing, preadolescent substance use, age, and hepatitis C status predicted risk profiles. Conclusions. Incorporation of social network variables into LCA can distinguish important subgroups with varying patterns of risk behaviors that can lead to sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections.

Keywords: addiction; adolescent; adult; aged; article; Canada; female; hepatitis C; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; mental health; middle aged; psychological aspect; risk factor; sexual behavior; social support; socioeconomics; statistics; urban population; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Hepatitis C; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Manitoba; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Urban Population; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301833_6

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301833

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