Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine

Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations of sexual minority stress and outness with leukocyte telomere length across time among sexually minority men (SMM) with HIV who use methamphetamine. Methods: A sample of 91 SMM with HIV with biologically confirmed recent methamphet...

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Main Authors: Renessa S. Williams, Ariana Johnson, Michael Miller-Perusse, Annesa Flentje, Judy Moskowitz, Samantha E. Dilworth, Keith J. Horvath, Adam W. Carrico, Brad E. Aouizerat, Delaram Ghanooni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625001449
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author Renessa S. Williams
Ariana Johnson
Michael Miller-Perusse
Annesa Flentje
Judy Moskowitz
Samantha E. Dilworth
Keith J. Horvath
Adam W. Carrico
Brad E. Aouizerat
Delaram Ghanooni
author_facet Renessa S. Williams
Ariana Johnson
Michael Miller-Perusse
Annesa Flentje
Judy Moskowitz
Samantha E. Dilworth
Keith J. Horvath
Adam W. Carrico
Brad E. Aouizerat
Delaram Ghanooni
author_sort Renessa S. Williams
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations of sexual minority stress and outness with leukocyte telomere length across time among sexually minority men (SMM) with HIV who use methamphetamine. Methods: A sample of 91 SMM with HIV with biologically confirmed recent methamphetamine use completed measures of sexual minority stress and outness at the baseline visit in a randomized controlled trial. Telomere length was measured over 15 months using extracted leukocyte DNA Statistical analyses were performed using bivariate analyses and generalized estimation equations to examine the independent association between baseline outness and leukocyte telomere length, adjusting for chronological age and recent stimulant use. Results: Greater outness was significantly associated with longer telomere length (estimate = 0.008; CI: 0.001–0.008) after adjusting for chronological age and stimulant use. There was no evidence that stimulant use, intervention assignment, or race/ethnicity moderated the association between outness and greater leukocyte-telomere length. Sexual minority stress was not significantly associated with leukocyte-telomere length. Conclusion: Findings are among the first to demonstrate that greater outness is associated with slower biological aging in SMM. Further research is needed to elucidate the bio-behavioral mechanisms linking outness and greater leukocyte-telomere length.
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spelling doaj-art-eecc753f3b6f4ada94f513e66696ca532025-08-20T03:43:55ZengElsevierBrain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health2666-35462025-10-014810108610.1016/j.bbih.2025.101086Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamineRenessa S. Williams0Ariana Johnson1Michael Miller-Perusse2Annesa Flentje3Judy Moskowitz4Samantha E. Dilworth5Keith J. Horvath6Adam W. Carrico7Brad E. Aouizerat8Delaram Ghanooni9University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, 5030 Brunson Dr Miami, FL, 33146, USA; Corresponding author.University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USASan Diego State University/University of California San Diego, Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, 92120, USAUniversity of California San Francisco, School of Nursing in Community Health Systems, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Alliance Health Project, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USANorthwestern University, Department of Medical Social Sciences (Intervention Science) Feinberg School of Medicine, 633 N. St Clair, Chicago, IL, 60611, USAUniversity of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, USASan Diego State University/University of California San Diego, Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA; San Diego State University, Department of Psychology, 6363-250 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA, 92120, USAFlorida International University Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, USAFlorida International University Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, USAObjective: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations of sexual minority stress and outness with leukocyte telomere length across time among sexually minority men (SMM) with HIV who use methamphetamine. Methods: A sample of 91 SMM with HIV with biologically confirmed recent methamphetamine use completed measures of sexual minority stress and outness at the baseline visit in a randomized controlled trial. Telomere length was measured over 15 months using extracted leukocyte DNA Statistical analyses were performed using bivariate analyses and generalized estimation equations to examine the independent association between baseline outness and leukocyte telomere length, adjusting for chronological age and recent stimulant use. Results: Greater outness was significantly associated with longer telomere length (estimate = 0.008; CI: 0.001–0.008) after adjusting for chronological age and stimulant use. There was no evidence that stimulant use, intervention assignment, or race/ethnicity moderated the association between outness and greater leukocyte-telomere length. Sexual minority stress was not significantly associated with leukocyte-telomere length. Conclusion: Findings are among the first to demonstrate that greater outness is associated with slower biological aging in SMM. Further research is needed to elucidate the bio-behavioral mechanisms linking outness and greater leukocyte-telomere length.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625001449AgingHIVLeukocyte telomere lengthMethamphetamineOutnessSexual minority stress
spellingShingle Renessa S. Williams
Ariana Johnson
Michael Miller-Perusse
Annesa Flentje
Judy Moskowitz
Samantha E. Dilworth
Keith J. Horvath
Adam W. Carrico
Brad E. Aouizerat
Delaram Ghanooni
Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
Aging
HIV
Leukocyte telomere length
Methamphetamine
Outness
Sexual minority stress
title Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
title_full Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
title_fullStr Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
title_full_unstemmed Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
title_short Outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with HIV who use methamphetamine
title_sort outness predicts greater leukocyte telomere length in sexually minoritized men with hiv who use methamphetamine
topic Aging
HIV
Leukocyte telomere length
Methamphetamine
Outness
Sexual minority stress
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625001449
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