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Disclosure of HIV Serostatus and Sexual Orientation Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in China

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Abstract

This study addressed the issue of disclosing HIV status and sexual orientation, and explored the consequences of such disclosures among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 37 HIV-positive MSM. Of these participants, 3 (8.1 %) disclosed neither their HIV status nor their sexual orientation to anyone; 24 (64.9 %) voluntarily disclosed both their HIV-positive status and their sexual orientation; 7 (18.9 %) voluntarily disclosed their HIV status only, and 3 (8.1 %) involuntarily disclosed their HIV status and sexual orientation. Parents, partners, siblings and close friends were the most common disclosure targets. HIV-positive MSM were less likely to disclose their sexual orientation than their HIV status. The positive consequences of disclosure included receiving support, acquiring family care, reducing stress, improving mood and developing more positive values and beliefs. The negative consequences included the participants’ perception of rejection and stigma toward themselves and their families. However, the stigma mainly comes from “outsiders” rather than family members and close friends. We did not find any differences with respect to consequences between participants who disclosed their HIV status only and those who disclosed both their HIV status and sexual orientation. In conclusion, partners, siblings and friends were main disclosure targets, and HIV positive MSM preferred to disclose their HIV serostatus than their sexual orientation. Voluntarily disclosing one’s HIV status to significant others resulted in more positive consequences than negative consequences. Theses results were informative for developing mental health and coping interventions.

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Acknowledgments

Sixth Global Fund from the China Global Fund Principle supported this study. The authors thank Jun Wang and Rui Xin for their assistance in data collection. The authors also thank Meng Zhang, who helped edit this manuscript in English language.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

    Xiuyun Lin & Xiaoyi Fang

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China

    Peilian Chi

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Liying Zhang, Shan Qiao & Xiaoming Li

  4. Department of Medical Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Yan Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiuyun Lin
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  2. Peilian Chi
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  3. Liying Zhang
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  4. Yan Zhang
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  5. Xiaoyi Fang
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  6. Shan Qiao
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  7. Xiaoming Li
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Liying Zhang or Xiaoyi Fang.

Appendix: Interview Guide for HIV Positive MSM

Appendix: Interview Guide for HIV Positive MSM

  1. 1.

    Please introduce yourself.

  2. 2.

    How do you know your HIV infection? How long is it from that you have known your HIV infection?

  3. 3.

    After knowing HIV infection, what changes happened to your life, career et al.,?

  4. 4.

    How about your psychological status after knowing HIV infection? What is the process of the changing? How is it now?

  5. 5.

    What stresses do you encounter after HIV infection? How do you cope with these stresses?

  6. 6.

    To be a homosexual orientation man, what stresses do you encounter? How do you cope with these stresses?

  7. 7.

    Who knows your HIV infection? How do they know your HIV infection?

  8. 8.

    Who knows your sexual orientation? How do they know your sexual orientation?

  9. 9.

    What were the consequences after disclosure of HIV positive to others?

  10. 10.

    What were the consequences after disclosure of sexual orientation to others?

  11. 11.

    How do you feel after your disclosure?

  12. 12.

    What did the persons who know your HIV status do for you after they knowing your HIV infection?

  13. 13.

    What did the persons whom you disclosed sexual orientation to do for you after they knowing your sexual orientation?

  14. 14.

    Are there/what are any changes in the way your families and friends treat you after disclosure HIV status?

  15. 15.

    Are there/what are any changes in the way your families and friends treat you after disclosure sexual orientation?

  16. 16.

    What are the stresses of nondisclosure?

  17. 17.

    Do you talk about your HIV infection again with families and friends after disclosure? What do you talk about? How about their attitude?

  18. 18.

    Do you talk about sexual orientation again with families and friends after disclosure? What do you talk about? How about their attitude?

  19. 19.

    When you talking about disclosure HIV status to others, do you have any experience sharing to us how to disclose HIV status to others? Especially to family members?

  20. 20.

    When you talking about disclosure sexual orientation to others, do you have any experience sharing to us how to disclose HIV status to others? Especially to family members?

  21. 21.

    About the topic, what is more do you want to talk about?

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Lin, X., Chi, P., Zhang, L. et al. Disclosure of HIV Serostatus and Sexual Orientation Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in China. Community Ment Health J 52, 457–465 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9879-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9879-z

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