Brian Mustanski
Biographic Data
| ID | 110972 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Brian Mustanski |
| GIVEN NAMES | Brian |
| FAMILY NAME | Mustanski |
| SIGNATURE | MUSTANSKI B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Northwestern University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9222-5116 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 189 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1155 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 189 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 19 |
Heterogeneity in sexual identity development among young sexual minority cisgender women: Associations with outness, victimization, and depression
Timing of sexual identity development has implications for victimization and health. Prior studies have primarily focused on men's same-gender attractions/experiences, and less is known about sexual minority, especially bisexual, women. The current study explored patterns of sexual identity development among 402 young sexual minority cisgender women and examined associations with outness, victimization, and depression. Latent class analysis ident…
Beliefs About Toxic Interactions Between Alcohol and PrEP Predict Less Initiation and More Discontinuation: Results from the Radar Cohort Study
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) have high HIV incidence but suboptimal PrEP coverage, so it’s critical we identify barriers to PrEP uptake and persistence. Among people living with HIV, research indicates that medication adherence is lower among people who believe that alcohol and HIV medications interact to produce toxic effects. Rates of hazardous drinking are elevated among YMSM, suggesting such beliefs may be common. The goal of these …
Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Alcohol and Substance Use Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Radar Cohort
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue in sexual and gender minority people assigned male at birth (SGM-AMAB), with rates at or above those of cisgender women. However, there is little research on how IPV exposure may impact alcohol and drug use (DU) in this population, impeding holistic intervention development. This study investigated whether experiences of IPV lead to higher rates of substance use over tim…
Substance Use Classes Among YMSM in an HIV Digital Health Intervention Program: Implications for Acceptability, Engagement, and Health Outcomes
Comparing Implementation and Effectiveness Outcomes for Two Implementation Strategies of the Keep It Up! Digital HIV Prevention Program: A Type 3 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial
This study sought to compare implementation and effectiveness outcomes for two delivery strategies of a digital HIV prevention intervention: community-based organization (CBO) versus direct-to-consumer (DTC). A type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial compared two implementation strategies of Keep It Up! (KIU! ) for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) (n = 2124). Data were collected at baseline and 12-weeks in 2019-2023. DTC enrolled…
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and HIV Risk-Related Behaviors among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth: The Moderating Effects of Teenage Childhood Sexual Abuse
Incentivizing Prevention: Community Based Organizations’ Perceptions on Financial Incentives for Recruitment and Retention of Participants in Keep it Up! (KIU!), an eHealth HIV Prevention Intervention
While financial incentivization has been found to significantly increase HIV retesting, receipt of HIV test results, and viral suppression, little research has examined community-based organizations (CBOs) perspectives on implementing financial incentives. We interviewed 22 CBOs related to implementing financial incentives for client engagement in a digital HIV prevention intervention, Keep It Up! (KIU!). KIU! was designed with and for young men …
Alcohol and cannabis use in relation to daily marginalization in transgender individuals
As part of a larger study on minority stress with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) participants, this daily diary study explored associations between daily marginalization and gender non-affirmation with alcohol and cannabis use, as well as general and TGD-specific coping motives for use. We examined the mediating effects of general (e.g., rumination) and identity-specific (e.g., internalized stigma) processes that may help explain how stigma…
Observing types and successes of alcohol cessation attempts among young sexual and gender minority people assigned male at birth in the Radar cohort study
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people assigned male at birth (AMAB) report high alcohol use, binge drinking, and alcohol problems. However, little is known about how SGM people AMAB may reduce or cease alcohol use, and the resources they draw upon to do so. The overarching aim of this report is to describe the types, frequencies, and relative success of attempts to quit/cut down on alcohol among a large sample of SGM people AMAB enrolled in a l…
An empirical test of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of willingness and intention to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among adolescent men who have sex with men
BACKGROUND: Adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, yet uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among AMSM is low. Theory-based research is needed to increase PrEP adoption for HIV prevention among AMSM. PURPOSE: Using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model, we aimed to (1) examine information, motivation, and behavioral skills as determinants of willingness and intention to use …
Explaining Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Sars-CoV-2-Related Outcomes: Results from a Serosurvey in Chicago
A Mixed Methods Investigation Examining the PrEP Cascade Among 13-18-Year-Old Latino Adolescent Sexual Minority Men
Intentional and Unintentional Fentanyl Use Among a Cohort of Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth in Chicago
Estimating Substance Use Homophily in the Sexual Network of a Large Cohort of Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth
Dyadic Moderators of the Minority Stress-HIV Risk Association in Male Couples
Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Keep It Up!, A Digital Health Intervention, in Community-Based Organizations
Positive affect is associated with well-being among sexual and gender minorities and couples
Positive affect (PA) is a key determinant of well-being among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs). Despite a well-formed literature on PA's beneficial impact in other contexts (e.g., HIV care) among SGMs, little work has examined PA's interrelations with mental and relational well-being among partnered SGMs. We examined the normative trajectory of PA among partnered SGMs assigned male at birth (SGM-AMABs; N = 155) embedded in a longitudinal cohor…
Effects of Substance Use on Condomless Anal Sex in a Large Sample of Adolescent Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Within and Between Relationship Design
Rural–Urban Differences in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors and HIV Service Utilization Among Adolescent Sexual Minority Males in the United States
Effectiveness of the SMART Sex Ed program among 13–18 year old English and Spanish speaking adolescent men who have sex with men
Substance Use Experiences Among Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer (Bi+) Male Youth: A Qualitative Study of Motivations, Consequences, and Decision Making
Trauma History Predicts Decoupling of C-Reactive Protein and Somatic Symptoms: Results From a Cohort Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
OBJECTIVE: Systemic inflammation can induce somatic symptoms (e.g., pain, nausea, fatigue) through neuroimmune signaling pathways. Previous research suggests that early-life adversity amplifies signaling between peripheral inflammation and the brain. We therefore hypothesized that greater lifetime trauma exposure at baseline would predict stronger associations between systemic inflammation and somatic symptoms at 2.5-year follow-up in a cohort st…
Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among Spanish and English-Speaking Latino Adolescents Aged 13–18
A Qualitative Study of First HIV Test Experiences Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents
Acceptability of ‘Humpr’: An Online Tool to Educate Adolescent Sexual Minority Males About Sexual Networking Applications
We examined the acceptability of Humpr - an interactive, online tool developed to educate adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) about how to safely navigate sexual networking applications (SNA). We developed Humpr as part of a larger HIV intervention trial in the U.S. In Humpr, 218 ASMM aged 14-20 (M age = 17.18) created a mock dating profile, explored simulated user profiles, learned health-related information (e.g. slang indicating HIV/STI ri…
Exploring the Diversity of Gender and Sexual Orientation Identities in an Online Sample of Transgender Individuals
Although the term transgender is increasingly used to refer to those whose gender identity or expression diverges from culturally defined categories of sex and gender, less is known about the self-identities of those who fall within this category. Historically, recruitment of transgender populations has also been limited to specialized clinics and support groups. This study was conducted online, with the aim of exploring the gender identities, se…
The Interplay between Online and Offline Explorations of Identity, Relationships, and Sex: A Mixed-Methods Study with LGBT Youth
Although the Internet is commonly used by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth to explore aspects of sexual health, little is known about how this usage relates to offline explorations and experiences. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the interplay between online and offline explorations of multiple dimensions of sexual health, which include sexually transmitted infections, sexual identities, romantic relati…
Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Developmental Resiliency Perspective
Research suggests that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are at increased risk for both victimization and internalizing mental health problems, but limited research has studied their association or factors that increase resilience. The sample included 425 LGBs between the ages of 16 and 24 year. The majority had disclosed their sexual orientation to family or friends (98%) and 97% had someone in their lives who was accepting. Racial/ethnic m…
Mental Health Disorders, Psychological Distress, and Suicidality in a Diverse Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youths
Objectives. We examined associations of race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation with mental disorders among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths. Methods. We assessed mental disorders by administering a structured diagnostic interview to a community sample of 246 LGBT youths aged 16 to 20 years. Participants also completed the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI 18). Results. One third of participants met criteria for any ment…
Getting wired: Exploiting the internet for the collection of valid sexuality data
This paper explores the use of the Internet as a data collection method for sexuality research. Benefits, such as larger, more representative samples, and risks to validity, such as lying and sabotage, are discussed in the context of a large Internet‐based study of how “having sex” is defined by gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students. Suggestions for how to maximize utility as well as combat potential risks and ethical dilemmas are offered. …
I Won't Out Myself Just to Do a Survey: Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents' Perspectives on the Risks and Benefits of Sex Research
Ethical and Regulatory Issues with Conducting Sexuality Research with LGBT Adolescents: A Call to Action for a Scientifically Informed Approach
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Initial Efficacy of an Online Sexual Health Promotion Program for LGBT Youth: The Queer Sex Ed Intervention
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experience multiple sexual health inequities driven, in part, by deficits in parental and peer support, school-based sex education programs, and community services. Research suggests that the Internet may be an important resource in the development of sexual health among LGBT youth. We examined the feasibility of recruiting youth in same-sex relationships into an online sexual health interventi…
Barriers to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals
Management of a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: A Qualitative Study of Concealment, Disclosure, and Role Flexing Among Young, Resilient Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals
Disclosure of a sexual or gender minority status has been associated with both positive and negative effects on wellbeing. Few studies have explored the disclosure and concealment process in young people. Interviews were conducted with 10 sexual and/or gender minority individuals, aged 18-22 years, of male birth sex. Data were analyzed qualitatively, yielding determinants and effects of disclosure and concealment. Determinants of disclosure inclu…
A Longitudinal Study of Predictors of Suicide Attempts Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth
Mental Health and Suicidality Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Sexual Minority Youths
Objectives. We examined the relationships among sexual minority status, sex, and mental health and suicidality, in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Methods. Using pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys within 14 jurisdictions, we used hierarchical linear modeling to examine 6 mental health outcomes across 6 racial/ethnic groups, intersecting with sexual minority status and sex. Based on an omnibus measure o…
Identifying Sexual Orientation Health Disparities in Adolescents: Analysis of Pooled Data From the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2005 and 2007
We studied sexual orientation disparities in health outcomes among US adolescents by pooling multiple Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data sets from 2005 and 2007 for 14 jurisdictions. Here we describe the methodology for pooling and analyzing these data sets. Sexual orientation–related items assessed sexual orientation identity, gender of sexual contacts, sexual attractions, and harassment regarding sexual orientation. Wording of items varied …
Internet Use and Sexual Health of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Mixed-Methods Study
The Effects of Cumulative Victimization on Mental Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescents and Young Adults
Objectives. To examine the effects of the cumulative victimization experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths on mental disorders. Methods. We recruited 248 participants from the Chicago, Illinois, area in 7 waves of data collected over 4 years, beginning in 2007 (83.1% retention rate). Mean age at enrollment was 18.7 years, and 54.7% were Black. We measured depression and posttraumatic stress disorder using structured psychiat…
The Effects of Sexual Partnership and Relationship Characteristics on Three Sexual Risk Variables in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
Moderators of the Relationship Between Internalized Homophobia and Risky Sexual Behavior in Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Meta-Analysis
Research on internalized homophobia (IH) has consistently linked it to both mental and physical health outcomes, while research on its relationships with other variables has been inconsistent. Some research and theory support the association between IH and risky sexual behavior, but much of this research has been plagued by methodological issues, varying measures, and has produced inconsistent findings. Coming to a better understanding of the uti…
Tip of the Iceberg: Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, the Internet, and HIV Risk
Objectives. We examined the prevalence of Internet use for meeting sexual partners (Internet partners) and HIV risk behaviors associated with this use among young men who have sex with men (aged 16–24 years). Methods. A sample of 270 young men who have sex with men completed a computer-assisted survey. We used bivariate χ 2 analyses and hierarchical logistic regression to assess factors associated with Internet-facilitated sexual encounters. Resu…
Intimate Partner Violence Experiences of Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults Assigned Female at Birth
Sexual and gender minority youth, especially those assigned female at birth, are at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) due to minority stressors. With a sample of 352 sexual and gender minority youth assigned female at birth (age 16-32), we aimed to describe IPV in this population, including the prevalence, directionality, frequency, co-occurrence, and demographic correlates of various IPV types. Rates of past-6-month IPV were high, with vi…
Assessing the stability of egocentric networks over time using the digital participant-aided sociogram tool Network Canvas
This paper examines the stability of egocentric networks as reported over time using a novel touchscreen-based participant-aided sociogram. Past work has noted the instability of nominated network alters, with a large proportion leaving and reappearing between interview observations. To explain this instability of networks over time, researchers often look to structural embeddedness, namely the notion that alters are connected to other alters wit…
A Syndemic of Psychosocial Health Disparities and Associations With Risk for Attempting Suicide Among Young Sexual Minority Men
Objectives. We examined a syndemic of psychosocial health issues among young men who have sex with men (MSM), with men and women (MSMW), and with women (MSW). We examined hypothesized drivers of syndemic production and effects on suicide attempts. Methods. Using a pooled data set of 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys from 11 jurisdictions, we used structural equation modeling to model a latent syndemic factor of depression symptoms, substa…
Gender identity development among transgender and gender nonconforming emerging adults: An intersectional approach
Background: The present study used an intersectional framework to elucidate similarities and differences in the gender-related experiences reported by a diverse sample of transgender and gender nonconforming emerging adults (n = 20, age 19–22). The first aim was to identify dimensions of gender-related experience that captured how participants describe, relate to, and express their gender-related sense of self. The second aim was to identify intr…
The Association Between Sexual Orientation Identity and Behavior Across Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Age in a Probability Sample of High School Students
Objectives. We examined the prevalence and associations between behavioral and identity dimensions of sexual orientation among adolescents in the United States, with consideration of differences associated with race/ethnicity, sex, and age. Methods. We used pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys to estimate prevalence of sexual orientation variables within demographic sub-groups. We used multilevel logistic regression models t…
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Pubertal Development: Longitudinal Data From Finnish Twins at Ages 11 and 14
To study sources of individual differences in pubertal development, the authors fit a sex-limitation common factor model to data reported, at ages 11 and 14 years, by 1,891 twin pairs on items that comprise the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS; A. C. Petersen, L. Crockett, M. Richards, & A. Boxer, 1988). The model divides variation into a general pubertal factor and item-specific variation and, in addition, decomposes it into constituent sources. …
Gender variations, generational effects, and mental health of transgender people in relation to timing and status of gender identity milestones
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people commonly report the following gender identity milestones: feeling different about their gender than expectations for their sex assigned at birth, identifying as TGD, living in their affirmed gender, and, for some, accessing gender-affirming medical care. We explored the average ages of reaching these milestones and variations across gender groups and generational cohorts. We also examined how gender gro…
Getting wired: Exploiting the internet for the collection of valid sexuality data
This paper explores the use of the Internet as a data collection method for sexuality research. Benefits, such as larger, more representative samples, and risks to validity, such as lying and sabotage, are discussed in the context of a large Internet‐based study of how “having sex” is defined by gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students. Suggestions for how to maximize utility as well as combat potential risks and ethical dilemmas are offered. …
A Critical Review of Recent Biological Research on Human Sexual Orientation
This article provides a comprehensive review and critique of biological research on sexual orientation published over the last decade. We cover research investigating (a) the neurohormonal theory of sexual orientation (psychoneuroendocrinology, prenatal stress, cerebral asymmetry, neuroanatomy, otoacoustic emissions, anthropometrics), (b) genetic influences, (c) fraternal birth-order effects, and (d) a putative role for developmental instability.…
Dermatoglyphics, Handedness, Sex, and Sexual Orientation
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Pubertal Development: Longitudinal Data From Finnish Twins at Ages 11 and 14
To study sources of individual differences in pubertal development, the authors fit a sex-limitation common factor model to data reported, at ages 11 and 14 years, by 1,891 twin pairs on items that comprise the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS; A. C. Petersen, L. Crockett, M. Richards, & A. Boxer, 1988). The model divides variation into a general pubertal factor and item-specific variation and, in addition, decomposes it into constituent sources. …
I Can Use a Condom, I Just Don’t: The Importance of Motivation to Prevent HIV in Adolescent Seeking Psychiatric Care
Psychosocial health problems increase risk for HIV among urban young men who have sex with men: Preliminary evidence of a syndemic in need of attention
BACKGROUND: Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) experience disparities in HIV rates and potentially in mental health, substance abuse, and exposure to violence. PURPOSE: We assessed the extent to which these psychosocial health problems had an additive effect on increasing HIV risk among YMSM. METHODS: An urban sample of 310 ethnically diverse YMSM reported on psychosocial health problems, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV status. A count of psyc…
Are sexual partners met online associated with HIV/STI risk behaviours? Retrospective and daily diary data in conflict
The association between Internet sex-seeking and sexual risk-taking was explored using both retrospective and daily diary methodology. Men who have sex with men (MSM) (N=113) were recruited through a variety of Internet sites. Participants completed retrospective questionnaires on their history of Internet use to seek sexual partners and their engagement in sexual risk-taking behaviours. Participants also completed daily diaries for up to 30 days…
Medication Adherence Mediates the Relationship between Adherence Self-efficacy and Biological Assessments of HIV Health among those with Alcohol Use Disorders
Moderating Effects of Age on the Alcohol and Sexual Risk Taking Association: An Online Daily Diary Study of Men Who have Sex with Men
Tip of the Iceberg: Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, the Internet, and HIV Risk
Objectives. We examined the prevalence of Internet use for meeting sexual partners (Internet partners) and HIV risk behaviors associated with this use among young men who have sex with men (aged 16–24 years). Methods. A sample of 270 young men who have sex with men completed a computer-assisted survey. We used bivariate χ 2 analyses and hierarchical logistic regression to assess factors associated with Internet-facilitated sexual encounters. Resu…
Patient-related Factors Predicting HIV Medication Adherence among Men and Women with Alcohol Problems
The study explored the relationship between HIV medication adherence and alcohol, cognitive, social and affective factors in 272 persons with alcohol problems. Alcohol and cognitive factors significantly differentiated those who did and did not adhere. Specifically, adherence confidence and number of drinks emerged as subfactors driving the associations to adherence. Among those who were less than perfectly adherent ( n = 154), only alcohol facto…
Fluctuating Asymmetry and Sexual Orientation in Men and Women
Internalized homophobia and internalizing mental health problems: A meta-analytic review
Condom-Related Problems Among a Racially Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
Sensation Seeking Moderates the Effects of Alcohol and Drug Use Prior to Sex on Sexual Risk in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
A Network-Individual-Resource Model for HIV Prevention
Exploring Factors That Underlie Racial/Ethnic Disparities in HIV Risk among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
Mental Health Disorders, Psychological Distress, and Suicidality in a Diverse Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youths
Objectives. We examined associations of race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation with mental disorders among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths. Methods. We assessed mental disorders by administering a structured diagnostic interview to a community sample of 246 LGBT youths aged 16 to 20 years. Participants also completed the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI 18). Results. One third of participants met criteria for any ment…
The Importance of Measuring Internalized Homophobia/Homonegativity: Reply to Ross, Rosser, and Smolenski (2010a)
Relationship characteristics and sexual risk-taking in young men who have sex with men.
OBJECTIVE: Young men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly young men of color, are experiencing the largest increase in HIV incidence of any risk group in the United States Epidemiological research suggests that the majority of transmissions among MSM are occurring in the context of primary partnerships, but little research has been done on the processes within these dyads that increase HIV risk behaviors. The aim of this study was to use lon…
Examining Racial and Ethnic Minority Differences Among YMSM During Recruitment for an Online HIV Prevention Intervention Study
HIV in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Review of Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors, and Interventions
Epidemiological studies have found that young men who have sex with men (YMSM) represent the majority of young people infected with HIV annually in the United States. Further, they are one of the few risk groups to show an increase in the rate of infections in recent years. In addition to these disparities in prevalence and infection rates, there is an inequity in prevention and intervention research on this population. The purpose of this articl…
Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Developmental Resiliency Perspective
Research suggests that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are at increased risk for both victimization and internalizing mental health problems, but limited research has studied their association or factors that increase resilience. The sample included 425 LGBs between the ages of 16 and 24 year. The majority had disclosed their sexual orientation to family or friends (98%) and 97% had someone in their lives who was accepting. Racial/ethnic m…
Exploring the Diversity of Gender and Sexual Orientation Identities in an Online Sample of Transgender Individuals
Although the term transgender is increasingly used to refer to those whose gender identity or expression diverges from culturally defined categories of sex and gender, less is known about the self-identities of those who fall within this category. Historically, recruitment of transgender populations has also been limited to specialized clinics and support groups. This study was conducted online, with the aim of exploring the gender identities, se…
Ethical and Regulatory Issues with Conducting Sexuality Research with LGBT Adolescents: A Call to Action for a Scientifically Informed Approach
Psychology (167 works) · Medicine (148 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (115 works) · Social Psychology (101 works) · Clinical Psychology (97 works) · Public health (92 works) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy (91 works) · Men who have sex with men (83 works) · Developmental psychology (79 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (76 works)