Housing Instability, Depression, and HIV Viral Load Among Young Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract

Housing instability is common among sexual minority youth. Research suggests that psychological distress, such as depression, may mediate the association between housing instability and poor HIV-related outcomes, but this hypothesis remains underexplored. Housing instability was assessed using two variables (residential moves in 6 months, and self-reported homelessness at any time since age 15 years). We examined cross-sectional relationships between the housing instability variables and detectable HIV-1 viral load (VL) in a sample of young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) living with HIV (N = 81) in Atlanta, GA, in 2015-2016. Additionally, we explored whether depressive symptoms mediated this relationship. Our exploratory study suggests that psychological distress may partially mediate the association between housing instability and detectable VL. In addition to structural interventions that ensure housing stability, increasing use of mental health services by unstably housed YB-GBMSM may improve VL suppression in this high-risk population.