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- Title
Disclosure of HIV Status and Psychological Well-Being Among Latino Gay and Bisexual Men.
- Authors
Zea, María Cecilia; Reisen, Carol A.; Poppen, Paul J.; Bianchi, Fernanda T.; Echeverry, John J.
- Abstract
This study examined disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus by 301 Latino gay and bisexual men to members of their social networks and the mental health consequences of such disclosure. The sample was recruited from clinics, hospitals, and community agencies in New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston. Proportions disclosing differed depending on the target, with 85% having disclosed to closest friend, 78% to male main partner, 37% to mother, and 23% to father. Although there were differences depending on the target, disclosure was related to greater quality of social support, greater self-esteem, and lower levels of depression. Moreover, findings indicated that social support mediated the relationship between disclosure of serostatus and both self-esteem and depression. Thus, disclosure resulted in greater social support, which in turn had positive effects on psychological well-being. Findings demonstrate that generally Latino gay men are selective in choosing people to whom they disclose their serostatus and that disclosure tends to be associated with positive outcomes.
- Subjects
UNITED States; HIV infections; HIV-positive men; DISCLOSURE; MENTAL health; HISPANIC Americans
- Publication
AIDS & Behavior, 2005, Vol 9, Issue 1, p15
- ISSN
1090-7165
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10461-005-1678-z