Project PRIDE (Promoting Resilience In Discriminatory Environments)

Study Summary

The specific aims are to: 1. Pilot test a randomized controlled trial of Project PRIDE for feasibility for subsequent research projects. A sample of 123 men aged 18-25 who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, or some other non-heterosexual identity, who are HIV negative, who report at least once instance of condomless anal sex in the absence of PrEP in the past 60 days, and who report drug use at least once in the past 60 days will be recruited and randomized to one of two conditions: 1. Project PRIDE: an eight-session primary HIV-prevention intervention; or 2. Wait-list control condition: after approximately 5 months, participants will receive Project PRIDE. 2. Test the feasibility of obtaining biological measures of stress, drug use, and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) status. To examine the impact of the intervention on stress physiology, participants will provide saliva samples that will be used to assess diurnal stress (i.e., cortisol) at pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up. To substantiate self-report measures, participants will provide urine samples that will be used to assess drug use. Participants will be tested for gonorrhea, and chlamydia at each time point by providing a separate urine sample, HIV via oral swab and for syphilis by providing a blood sample. 3. It is hypothesized that, compared to the wait-list control group, those in the treatment group will report significant reductions in mental health problems (depression, anxiety. loneliness), minority stressors (internalized homonegativity, sexual orientation concealment), substance use (drug and alcohol), condomless anal sex, number of sex partners, and stress-related biomarkers (salivary cortisol). In addition, compared to the wait-list control group, those in the treatment group will report significant improvements in self-esteem.

Primary Outcome

Frequency of condomless anal sex in the absence of pre-exposure prophylaxis (i.e., use of Truvada to prevent HIV) will be assessed using the Timeline Followback method (Robinson, Sobell, Sobell, \& Leo, 2014), a calendar-based method for assessing the type and frequency of sexual contact and is sensitive to changes over time. This measure will be administered separately from the other measures, using an Excel document. Each participant will complete a 60-day Timeline Followback for sexual behavi

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Project PRIDE