TY - JOUR
T1 - Loneliness, HIV-related stigma, and condom use among a predominantly rural sample of HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM)
AU - Hubach, Randolph D.
AU - Dodge, Brian
AU - Li, Michael J.
AU - Schick, Vanessa
AU - Herbenick, Debby
AU - Ramos, William D.
AU - Cola, Thea
AU - Reece, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Guilford Press.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Most previous studies of the sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV are based on samples recruited within relatively urban and suburban areas of rhe United States. Using an internet-based questionnaire, we assessed HIV-related stigma, loneliness, and event-level sexual behaviors in a sample of HIV positive MSM (n = 100) residing within a largely rural area in the Midwestern United States. HIV-related stigma was correlated with loneliness (r = 0.619, p < 0.01). Loneliness was negatively associated with condom usage with the most recent partner of unknown status (p < 0.05). Namely, a 1-unit increase in the UCLA loneliness score was met with a 10% decrease in odds of condom usage. Further studies are warranted that explore loneliness, within the context of HIV-related stigma, among HIV-positive MSM residing in rural areas. More refined data will inform clinical and social service practice, as they provide much-needed information on sexual health outcomes and experiences of an often underserved and under studied population.
AB - Most previous studies of the sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV are based on samples recruited within relatively urban and suburban areas of rhe United States. Using an internet-based questionnaire, we assessed HIV-related stigma, loneliness, and event-level sexual behaviors in a sample of HIV positive MSM (n = 100) residing within a largely rural area in the Midwestern United States. HIV-related stigma was correlated with loneliness (r = 0.619, p < 0.01). Loneliness was negatively associated with condom usage with the most recent partner of unknown status (p < 0.05). Namely, a 1-unit increase in the UCLA loneliness score was met with a 10% decrease in odds of condom usage. Further studies are warranted that explore loneliness, within the context of HIV-related stigma, among HIV-positive MSM residing in rural areas. More refined data will inform clinical and social service practice, as they provide much-needed information on sexual health outcomes and experiences of an often underserved and under studied population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930010281&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/aeap.2015.27.1.72
DO - 10.1521/aeap.2015.27.1.72
M3 - Article
C2 - 25646731
AN - SCOPUS:84930010281
SN - 0899-9546
VL - 27
SP - 72
EP - 83
JO - AIDS Education and Prevention
JF - AIDS Education and Prevention
IS - 1
ER -