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Liboro RM, Yates TC, Bell S, Ranuschio B, Da Silva G, Fehr C, Ibañez-Carrasco F, Shuper PA. Protective Factors That Foster Resilience to HIV/AIDS: Insights and Lived Experiences of Older Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168548. [PMID: 34444297 PMCID: PMC8394869 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have been disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS health disparities. Research showed that resilience to HIV/AIDS is associated with increased use of relevant health services, lower sexual health risks, and improved mental health outcomes among racially and ethnically diverse gbMSM. As the subpopulation that has historically been impacted by HIV/AIDS the longest, older gbMSM living with HIV/AIDS have inarguably exhibited resilience to HIV/AIDS the most. The qualitative study described in this paper sought to identify and examine protective factors that fostered resilience to HIV/AIDS based on the insights and lived experiences of racially and ethnically diverse, older gbMSM. Applying a community-based participatory research approach that included the meaningful involvement of older gbMSM living with HIV/AIDS in different roles (i.e., advisory committee member, collaborator, peer researcher, and participant), the study recruited and included forty-one older gbMSM living with HIV/AIDS from Ontario, Canada, in confidential, semi-structured interviews. Utilizing thematic analysis, we identified three major themes from the participant interviews as factors that fostered the resilience of older gbMSM to HIV/AIDS and helped to address HIV/AIDS health disparities: (1) established protective factors, (2) behavioral protective factors, and (3) controversial protective factors. This paper argues for the importance of valuing and capitalizing on these protective factors in the conceptualization and development of interventions, services, and programs that are dedicated to fostering resilience to HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato M. Liboro
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; (S.B.); (B.R.)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (G.D.S.); (C.F.); (P.A.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Sherry Bell
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; (S.B.); (B.R.)
| | - Brandon Ranuschio
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; (S.B.); (B.R.)
| | - George Da Silva
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (G.D.S.); (C.F.); (P.A.S.)
| | - Charles Fehr
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (G.D.S.); (C.F.); (P.A.S.)
| | | | - Paul A. Shuper
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (G.D.S.); (C.F.); (P.A.S.)
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada;
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Barriers and Facilitators to Promoting Resilience to HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experiences of HIV-Positive, Racial and Ethnic Minority, Middle-Aged and Older Men Who Have Sex with Men from Ontario, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18158084. [PMID: 34360376 PMCID: PMC8345717 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18158084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Evidence-based research has highlighted the need for exploring factors that support the mental health of men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS (MSMLWH), and environmental influences that promote their resilience to HIV/AIDS. This exploratory study utilized a community-based participatory research approach to investigate barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, specifically among racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH, a population that continues to be significantly impacted by HIV/AIDS today. This collaborative, qualitative study recruited participants who identified as racial or ethnic minority MSMLWH, were aged 40 or older, and resided in Ontario, Canada. Participants (n = 24) discussed in their interviews barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, which they recognized from their lived experiences. Utilizing thematic analysis, themes related to barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS were identified. Themes related to identified barriers included: (1) language proficiency, (2) racism, (3) pernicious norms in North American gay culture, and (4) HIV stigma. Themes related to identified facilitators included: (1) compartmentalization, (2) perseverance, and (3) community-based health and social services. This article discusses the implications of the study’s findings, particularly on how they may influence the development of future services for racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH.
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