Christopher Owens

Students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to their peers in non-STEM fields (Flemmer...

Rural men are disproportionately impacted by substance misuse, its associated consequences, and the limited access to substance treatment services compared to men living in urban areas (Montemayor ...

While research shows rural men who have sex with men (MSM) are less likely to get HIV and STI tested compared to urban MSM, research has not identified which groups of rural MSM are more or less likely to get tested. There is a dearth of literature of within-group differences of HIV/STI testing among rural MSM, especially among substance using-MSM who are more vulnerable to HIV/STI infections. This study examined factors associated with HIV and STI testing among rural substance-using MSM in the South, guided by the Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Participants (N = 284) completed an online cross-sectional questionnaire, and two logistic regressions examined associations of predisposing, enabling, and need factors with past-year HIV and STI testing. For HIV testing, significant factors were education level, having a primary care provider, past-year sexualized drug use, and past-year STI diagnosis. For STI testing, significant factors were education level, sexualized drug use, and drug-related transactional sex. Findings highlight the importance of educational and risk perception campaigns to increase rural MSM accessing services, provider trainings for providers to identify behavioral risk factors and offer testing services, and at-home testing services.

Introduction: This scoping review mapped the population characteristics, methodologies, content, and publishing trends of primary research focused on rural LGBTQ individuals since the year 2000. Methods: We conducted a search using Academic Search Ultimate, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO and uploaded the relevant citations into Covidence. Our inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed journal articles that presented primary data, were published in English since 2000, recruited rural LGBTQ populations in the US, and reported health-related dependent variables by rural LGBTQ populations. From an initial pool of 13,284 articles, 167 met the inclusion criteria after title/abstract and full-text review. Results: Of the 167 included articles, the majority focused on sexual minority men and adults, and used nationwide samples. Over 80% of these studies were formative in nature. Over half of the articles recruited participants through venue or organization sampling or advertisements on social networking apps. In 30% of articles, investigators self-described the area or population as non-urban. Half of the studies offered individual compensation for participation. The predominant content area was sexual health. Approximately half of the articles were published in journals dedicated to LGBTQIA+ health/studies or HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: The findings from this review have the potential to inform future research, program development, and funding priorities related to rural LGBTQIA+ health locally and globally. We recommend that future studies diversify populations and ages, broaden health topics beyond sexual health, and integrate effectiveness–implementation hybrid designs to ensure that interventions are evidence-based and acceptable, and sustainable in rural contexts.

Background: As children living with HIV (CWH) achieve longer life expectancy, they face an emerging ‘double burden’ of infectious and non-communicable diseases, specifically pediatric overweight and obesity (OW/OB). This risk is exacerbated by weight-inducing Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs). We systematically reviewed family-based pediatric weight management interventions for CWH aged 6 to 12 globally. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024554376), we searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane (2007-2024) for clinic-linked behavioral interventions reporting body composition or behavioral outcomes. Results: From 1026 records and 7 full-text reviews, no studies met the inclusion criteria. Excluded studies lacked clinical integration or targeted adult populations. Conclusion: This ‘null’ finding represents a critical evidence gap and clinic concern: CWH receive weight-inducing medications without evidence-based behavioral support. Future research must prioritize integrating care models using implementation science frameworks (RE-AIM/CFIR) to bridge the gap between primary HIV care and obesity management in resource-constrained settings.

Investigate the demographic, psychosocial, and Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) factors influencing sexual minority undergraduate college students' intentions to seek alcohol-related help. A non-probability sample of sexual minority college students throughout the U.S. (N = 253). Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey of psychosocial and RAA scales. A hierarchical linear regression tested associations with intentions to seek alcohol related-help. Racial/ethnic minority students reported lower intentions to seek help than Non-Hispanic White students. Greater childhood adversity was associated with higher help-seeking intentions, whereas more hazardous drinking was associated with lower intentions. Regarding the RAA, more favorable attitudes, stronger norms, and greater autonomy were associated with higher intentions. There is a need for alcohol screening and brief interventions that integrate racial and sexual minority cultural competency. Universities should implement behavioral health screenings to identify hazardous drinking and incorporate RAA constructs into social marketing campaigns to promote alcohol and other behavioral health help seeking.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among Black adolescents have historically been lower compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Black adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. This study examined the predictors of STBs and associated factors in Black adolescents with respect to school-based victimizations. Data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were utilized in this cross-sectional study and included 2,322 Black high school adolescents. All demographic data, and data for school-based victimization and STBs were self-reported. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between school-based victimization and STBs. Female ( OR = 6.136; 95% CI [2.874, 13.098]) and male adolescents ( OR = 10.839; 95% CI [5.305, 22.146]) who felt sad or hopeless had significantly higher odds of suicide ideation. Physical fighting at school significantly reduced the odds of males experiencing ideation ( OR = 0.419; 95% CI [0.192, 0.916]) and planning ( OR = 0.273; 95% CI [0.087, 0.853]). Bullied female adolescents had significantly increased odds of planning suicide ( OR = 2.650; 95% CI [1.338, 5.249]). This study presented an analysis of Black adolescents’ experiences of victimization in school settings and their associations with STBs using one of the largest national adolescent health datasets. Findings of this study have implications for school health policy, practice, and equity. These findings highlight the urgent need to address victimization as a critical step in Black adolescents’ suicide risk. We propose expanding victimization items and future phenomenological studies on school-based victimization of Black adolescents and STBs.