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Dimensions of Psychological Well-being Predict Consistent Condom Use among Older Adults Living with HIV

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Abstract

This study examined the role of psychological well-being in promoting consistent condom use among a sample of HIV-positive adults ages 50 and older living in New York City. Data were drawn from the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) project, and 328 sexually active participants (ages 50 to 78) were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Participants completed the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-being Ryff (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 57(6):1069–1081, 1989) and a detailed measure of sexual behavior in the past 90 days. Separate regression models were constructed by gender and sexual orientation (i.e., gay/bisexual men, straight men, and women). Psychological well-being was positively associated with sustained prevention practice, i.e., consistent condom use during every act of anal or vaginal sex. The effects of psychological well-being were observed over and above those associated with drug use or disease severity (i.e., presence of an AIDS diagnosis). Unique dimensions of psychological well-being were associated with protected sex practice for each of the three gender/sexual orientation cohorts. This study is among the first to identify associations among specific psychological resources and consistent condom use among HIV-positive persons, and provides support for a salutogenic, eudaimonic approach to understanding and fostering prevention behavior among HIV-positive older adults.

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Acknowledgements

Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) was supported by the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA). The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Andrew Shippy and the ROAH project team: Philana Rowell, for her effective recruiting and assistance with testing participants; Allison Applebaum and David Ward for their assistance with data collection and entry; and Nicola Di Pietro for his assistance with data collection, entry and analysis. We are also grateful to the participants who gave their time and energy to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA

    Sarit A. Golub & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  2. Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA

    Sarit A. Golub, Michael Botsko, Kristi E. Gamarel & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  3. Social & Personality Psychology Doctoral Subprogram, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY, USA

    Sarit A. Golub, Kristi E. Gamarel & Jeffrey T. Parsons

  4. AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, New York, NY, USA

    Mark Brennan & Stephen E. Karpiak

  5. New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA

    Mark Brennan & Stephen E. Karpiak

  6. Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, Room 714N, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Sarit A. Golub

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  1. Sarit A. Golub
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  2. Michael Botsko
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  3. Kristi E. Gamarel
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  4. Jeffrey T. Parsons
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  5. Mark Brennan
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Correspondence to Sarit A. Golub.

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Golub, S.A., Botsko, M., Gamarel, K.E. et al. Dimensions of Psychological Well-being Predict Consistent Condom Use among Older Adults Living with HIV. Ageing Int 38, 179–194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-011-9126-z

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