Homosexuality Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Homosexuality, including details on causes, biology, signs, statistics, trends.

Resilience as an untapped resource in behavioral intervention design for gay men.

Herrick AL, Lim SH, Wei C, Smith H, Guadamuz T, Friedman MS, Stall R

Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. alh75@pitt.edu

Men who have sex with men experience high rates of psychosocial health problems such as depression, substance use, and victimization that may be in part the result of adverse life experiences related to cultural marginalization and homophobia. These psychosocial health conditions interact to form a syndemic which may be driving HIV risk within this population. However, MSM also evidence great resilience to both the effects of adversity and the effects of syndemics. Investigating and harnessing these natural strengths and resiliencies may enhance HIV prevention and intervention programs thereby providing the additional effectiveness needed to reverse the trends in HIV infection among MSM.

Published 28 March 2011 in AIDS Behav, 15: S25-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Homosexuality published 28 March 2011:

Sexual pleasure and intimacy among men who engage in "bareback sex".   AIDS Behav, 15: S57-65.

An ethnically diverse sample of 120 mostly gay-identified men who engaged in "bareback" intercourse was recruited via the Internet in New York City. By study design three quarters of participants were HIV-uninfected and engaged in condomless receptive anal intercourse. In the course of face-to-face in-depth interviews, participants were asked what led them to have their first bareback experience as well as to continue with the behavior. Qualitative analysis identified the pivotal role ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Migration, neighborhoods, and networks: approaches to understanding how urban environmental conditions affect syndemic adverse health outcomes among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.   AIDS Behav, 15: S35-50.

Adopting socioecological, intersectionality, and lifecourse theoretical frameworks may enhance our understanding of the production of syndemic adverse health outcomes among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). From this perspective, we present preliminary data from three related studies that suggest ways in which social contexts may influence the health of MSM. The first study, using cross-sectional data, looked at migration of MSM to the gay resort area of South Florida, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

What is sexual health? Articulating a sexual health approach to HIV prevention for men who have sex with men.   AIDS Behav, 15: S18-24.

This article reviews the development of the construct of sexual health as well as how sexual health has become both part of the public health discourse and a key strategy in promoting overall health and human development. There are many lessons learned from international efforts which can be helpful in formulating a broad sexual health approach to HIV prevention among MSM in the United States. [Abstract] [Full-text]

Attitudes towards couples-based HIV testing among MSM in three US cities.   AIDS Behav, 15: S80-7.

Couples-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT)--in which couples receive counseling and their HIV test results together--has been shown to be an effective strategy among heterosexual sero-discordant couples in Africa for reducing HIV transmission by initiating behavioral change. This study examined attitudes towards CVCT among men who have sex with men (MSM) in three US cities. Four focus group discussions (FGD) were held with MSM in Atlanta, Chicago, and Seattle. Although initially ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Community perspectives on developing a sexual health agenda for gay and bisexual men.   AIDS Behav, 15: S101-6.

Community mobilization around gay rights in the late 1960s and 1970s led to the first efforts to improve the health of gay and bisexual men. In the 1980s the deadly AIDS epidemic was responded to with fierce organizing and community activism, primarily led by gay men. Today, community involvement is crucial to many advocacy and organizing efforts for the health of gay and bisexual men. This article begins with the roots of this history and then describes how they are reflected in a number of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Pre-exposure prophylaxis and the promise of combination prevention approaches.   AIDS Behav, 15: S72-9.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention is a promising experimental approach currently being tested globally. A number of PrEP trials are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of PrEP in men who have sex with men (MSM) and other populations at risk for HIV, and results will be available from this first generation of efficacy trials over the next few years. Here we review the rationale for orally-administered antiretrovirals for prevention, and outline issues the first generation ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Promoting the sexual health of MSM in the context of comorbid mental health problems.   AIDS Behav, 15: S30-4.

Despite the moderate efficacy of HIV prevention interventions for at risk gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), MSM continue to represent the largest group of new HIV infections and the largest number of individuals living with HIV in the US. Environmental factors such as sexual minority stress increase the vulnerability of MSM for mental health problems. These mental health problems can be a barrier to consistently engaging in self-care health behaviors such as sexual risk ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Rectal microbicides: can we make them and will people use them?   AIDS Behav, 15: S66-71.

The results of the CAPRISA 004 and iPrEx HIV prevention studies have demonstrated that topical or systemic use of antiretroviral agents can significantly reduce the risk of HIV acquisition associated with unprotected vaginal or anal sexual intercourse. However, the effect size in these studies was relatively modest and product adherence was generally poor. These observations suggest the need for new approaches to HIV prevention, especially for high risk MSM. Rates of lubricant use are high in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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