Abstract
Boredom is closely aligned with depression, but is understood to be conceptually distinct. Little is known about boredom among active drug users and the potential association with depression and HIV risk. Current IDUs (n = 845) completed a baseline behavioral survey including socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported boredom, depressive symptoms (CESD score), and HIV risk behaviors. One-third of the sample reported high boredom in the past week. In multivariate analysis, those who reported boredom were less likely to be older, African-American, have a main partner, and to be employed at least part-time. Controlling for covariates, those with high boredom were almost five times as likely to report high depressive symptoms. Co-occurrence of boredom and depressive symptoms (28 %) was strongly and independently associated with a range of injection risk behaviors and sex exchange. This study demonstrates the need for more thorough understanding of mental health and HIV risk among urban drug users.
Resumen
El aburrimiento está alineado con la depresión, pero se entiende que es distinto conceptualmente. Poco se sabe sobre el aburrimiento entre los usuarios activos de drogas y la asociación posible con la depresión y el riesgo de VIH. Usuarios de drogas inyectables actuales (n = 845) completó un estudio línea de base, incluyendo preguntas sobre características sociodemográficas, el aburrimiento (auto-reporte), los síntomas depresivos (puntaje CESD), y las conductas de riesgo de VIH. Un tercio de la muestra reportó un puntaje alto del aburrimiento en la última semana. En el análisis multivariado, los que reportaron el aburrimiento eran menos propensas a ser mayores, afro-americanos, tener una pareja principal, y estar empleado por lo menos a tiempo parcial. Controlando las co-variables, los que reportaron el aburrimiento alto eran casi cinco veces más propensas a reportar síntomas de depresión profunda. Co-ocurrencia de aburrimiento y los síntomas depresivos (28 %) se asoció fuertemente e independientemente con una gama de las conductas de riesgo de inyección y el intercambio de sexo. Este estudio ilustra la necesidad de una comprensión más profunda de la salud mental y el riesgo de VIH entre usuarios de drogas urbanos.
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Acknowledgments
Support was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant no. 1RO1 DA016555).The authors wish to thank the Lighthouse data team for their insight throughout this analysis, the data collection team for their dedicated efforts, and the study participants for their invaluable contributions.
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German, D., Latkin, C.A. Boredom, Depressive Symptoms, and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Urban Injection Drug Users. AIDS Behav 16, 2244–2250 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0247-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0247-5