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Sexual Behavior as a Function of Stigma and Coping with Stigma Among People with HIV/AIDS in Rural New England

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Abstract

The relationship between coping with HIV/AIDS stigma and engaging in risky sexual behavior (i.e., inconsistent condom use) was examined in HIV-positive adults living in rural areas. Participants answered questions about their experiences with HIV/AIDS prejudice and discrimination (enacted stigma) and their perceptions of felt HIV/AIDS stigma (disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concern with public attitudes). They were also asked about how they coped with HIV/AIDS stigma, and about their sexual activity during the past 90 days. We hypothesized that using disengagement coping to manage the stress of HIV/AIDS stigma would be related to risky sexual behavior. Multinomial logistic regression results showed that using disengagement coping (avoidance, denial, and wishful thinking) coupled with high levels of enacted stigma was associated with less risky rather than more risky sexual behavior. That is, disengagement coping coupled with high stigma increased the odds of not having vaginal or anal sex versus inconsistently using condoms. Implications for people with HIV/AIDS who use disengagement coping to manage stress to deal with HIV/AIDS stigma are discussed.

Resumen

La relación entre hacer frente al estigma de HIV/AIDS y el acoplamiento al comportamiento sexual aventurado (es decir, uso contrario del condón) fue examinada en los adultos seropositivos que vivían en zonas rurales. Los participantes contestaron a preguntas sobre sus experiencias con el prejudicar y la discriminación (estigma decretado) de HIV/AIDS y sus opiniones del estigma del fieltro HIV/AIDS (preocupaciones del acceso, uno mismo-imagen negativa, y preocupación con actitudes públicas). También les preguntaron acerca de cómo hicieron frente al estigma de HIV/AIDS, y acerca de su actividad sexual durante los últimos 90 días. Presumimos que usar la retirada que hace frente para manejar la tensión del estigma de HIV/AIDS sería relacionada con el comportamiento sexual aventurado. Los resultados logísticos polinomiales de la regresión demostraron que usando hacer frente de la retirada (evitación, negación, y optimismo a ultranza) juntado a niveles del estigma decretado fue asociado a menos aventurado algo que un comportamiento sexual más aventurado. Es decir, el hacer frente de la retirada juntado al alto estigma aumentó las probabilidades del no tener sexo vaginal o anal contra contrario usando los condones. Las implicaciones para la gente con HIV/AIDS que utilicen la retirada que hace frente para manejar la tensión para ocuparse del estigma de HIV/AIDS se discuten.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant R01 MH 066848 from the National Institute of Mental Health awarded to the second and third authors. The authors would like to acknowledge the Person Environment Zone Projects team, and particularly the data collection efforts of Tracy Nyerges, Lindsay Bisiker, and Daniel Cassidy. The authors also thank Janice Y. Bunn and an anonymous reviewer for statistical guidance and comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

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  1. Psychology Department, University of Vermont, John Dewey Hall, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Susan E. Varni, Carol T. Miller & Sondra E. Solomon

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  1. Susan E. Varni
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  2. Carol T. Miller
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Correspondence to Susan E. Varni or Carol T. Miller.

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Varni, S.E., Miller, C.T. & Solomon, S.E. Sexual Behavior as a Function of Stigma and Coping with Stigma Among People with HIV/AIDS in Rural New England. AIDS Behav 16, 2330–2339 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0239-5

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