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Methamphetamine use is a known predictor of riskier sexual behaviors, which can have important public health implications (e.g., HIV-transmission risk). Loneliness also is associated with riskier sexual behaviors, though the relationship between loneliness and beliefs and/or intentions to practice safer sex has not been examined among people dependent on methamphetamine. Individuals who met DSM-IV criteria for lifetime methamphetamine dependence  and  current (≤ 18-months) methamphetamine abuse or dependence (METH+  n  = 56) were compared to those without severity and recency of methamphetamine use (METH-  n  = 59). These groups did not differ on social network size or proportion of people with HIV (∼58% HIV+). Participants completed the NIH Toolbox Loneliness Scale and the Sexual Risks Scale’s “Norms” and “Intentions” subscales. METH+ individuals were significantly lonelier than METH- controls ( t (113) = 2.45,  p  = .02). Methamphetamine dependence remained significantly associated with greater loneliness, after controlling for HIV status and other relevant covariates (e.g., neurocognitive impairment, history of mood disorder, social network size;  F  = 3.70, Adjusted  R2  = 0.18,  p  = .0009). Loneliness, above and beyond the aforementioned covariates, was significantly associated with riskier beliefs and intentions to practice safer sex among METH+, but not METH-, individuals ( β  = 2.92,  p  = .02). Loneliness is prevalent among individuals dependent on methamphetamine, and is uniquely associated with riskier beliefs and intentions regarding practicing safer sex. Findings may aid in identifying individuals at-risk of engaging in riskier sexual behaviors and guide risk prevention strategies.

Loneliness, Risky Beliefs and Intentions about Practicing Safer Sex among Methamphetamine Dependent Individuals