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An examination of grit in black men who have sex with men and associations with health and social outcomes
Author(s) -
Winiker Abigail K.,
Tobin Karin E.,
DaveyRothwell Melissa,
Latkin Carl
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22176
Subject(s) - grit , men who have sex with men , odds , psychological intervention , gerontology , demography , odds ratio , epidemiology , intervention (counseling) , psychology , educational attainment , medicine , logistic regression , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , social psychology , psychiatry , family medicine , syphilis , pathology , sociology , economics , economic growth
Abstract Aims This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of grit in a sample of Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in Baltimore, Maryland. Methods A trained research assistant administered the Short‐Grit and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES‐D) scales and surveyed participants of a community‐based behavioral health intervention for demographic, health, and sexual behaviors. Results Of 239 participants, two‐thirds scored in the high grit category. A greater proportion of men with high grit demonstrated higher educational attainment, were employed in the prior 6 months, reported very good/excellent health, were human immunodeficiency virus‐positive, scored < 16 on the CES‐D, and had more friends who were gay. After controlling for other variables, high grit was associated with higher odds of having more friends who are gay and lower odds of alcohol use, unemployment, and a high CES‐D score. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that grit could be an important mechanism upon which to focus health and behavioral interventions for BMSM.