The purpose of this study was to examine HIV-positive women regarding their perceptions of family and friend social support and mental health outcomes. Regression models were constructed for five mental health outcomes. Results indicated that while each outcome has slightly different significant predictors, perceived family support was predictive of the reduced loneliness over the past few days and past year, stress, and presence of depressive symptoms. Implications for researchers and therapists are discussed.

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The purpose of this study was to test a barrier theory of perceived social support to HIV-positive gay men. The proposed model was tested for friends and family separately in order to investigate the uniqueness each provided. In both models, it was hypothesized that the presence of barriers to social support (availability, intimacy and disclosure) diminished acquisition of social support. The influence of barriers on the relationship between social support and health outcome (i.e. depression, t-cell count) for both friend and family models was also investigated. In general, data from HIV-positive gay men support barrier theory premises for both family and friends. Implications for helping professionals and researchers are proposed.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV in the US. HIV among older adults also continues to be an important public health problem. Age is associated with disclosure of HIV serostatus and self-efficacy for condom use. However, studies examining self-efficacy and disclosure among older MSM (age 50 and older) living with HIV are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between being 50 and older, and disclosure behaviors, intentions and attitudes, and self-efficacy for condom use, disclosure, and negotiation for safer sex practices among HIV-positive MSM. Data were gathered from 340 participants at the baseline assessment of a longitudinal disclosure intervention study. Linear regression was used to determine the association between being older (age 50 and older) and disclosure behaviors, intentions and attitudes, and selfefficacy for condom use, disclosure, and negotiation for safer sex practices. After adjusting for time since diagnosis and number of sexual partners, MSM aged 50 and older scored lower in disclosure behavior (b = -7.49; 95% CI: -14.8, -0.18) and in self-efficacy for negotiation of safer sex practices (b = -0.80; 95% CI: -1.57, -0.04) compared to MSM 18-34 years. Intervention and prevention programs should endeavor to improve disclosure and self-efficacy for negotiating safer sex practices among older HIV-positive MSM. More health care providers should initiate sexual health discussions, especially among older HIV-positive MSM populations, which may help to improve their disclosure behavior and self-efficacy for negotiating safer sex practices.

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