Future Life Goals of HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Male Emerging Adults

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the future life goals reported by a sample of HIV-positive gay/bisexual male emerging adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants ages 17-24 at four geographically and demographically diverse adolescent HIV medicine programs to explore the content of participants' goals, perceived obstacles and sources of resilience. We provide descriptive data on goals articulated by participants to begin to understand (1) how gay male emerging adults may differ from the heteronormative samples that have characterized most research on emerging adulthood to date, (2) how living with HIV/AIDS may impact the future life goals of this population, and (3) implications for HIV/AIDS service providers as HIV-positive emerging adults are transitioned from adolescent to adult care.

The LGBQ Social Climate Matters: Policies, Protests, and Placards and Psychological Well-Being Among LGBQ Emerging Adults

“…Climate is defined as the degree of acceptance in a given geographic area or institution (Oswald, Cuthbertson, Lazarevic, & Goldberg, 2010) and has been measured objectively at the state level by examining whether states have policies inclusive of sexual and/or gender minorities (e.g., same-sex marriage laws, employment protections). Exclusionary and discriminatory messages inherent in heterosexist laws and policies can undermine the mental health of sexual minorities, including LGBQ emerging adults, by creating stress within the individual and also act as barriers to realizing one's future goals (Bauermeister, 2014;Bruce & Harper, 2012;Meyer et al, 2011). State-level relationship recognition and employment protection policies and their underlying messages are related to family and career aspirations, both of which may be of concern to LGBQ emerging adults.…”

“…Regardless of one's stage of LGBQ identity disclosure or relationship status, emerging adulthood is a critical period for sexual minorities; intimate relationships are established (Lefkowitz & Gillen, 2006), important decisions are made about one's future, and individuals often have to negotiate and integrate their identities in new and changing contexts (Brewster & Moradi, 2010;Bruce & Harper, 2012;Cohler & Michaels, 2013). Given the pervasive nature of and stressors associated with heterosexism (Meyer, 2003), emerging adulthood may be complicated for sexual minorities.…”

“…Though coming out is common during adolescence (D'Augelli, Rendina, Grossman, & Sinclair, 2007), even when youth come out to themselves and perhaps to their friends as teenagers, many do not tell their families until young adulthood or later. Moreover, it is not uncommon for sexual minority individuals to have their first same-sex relationship during emerging adulthood (Lefkowitz & Gillen, 2006) and to establish future goals regarding relationships and families (Bruce & Harper, 2012).…”

A Suicide Prevention Intervention for Emerging Adult Sexual and Gender Minority Groups: Protocol for a Pilot Hybrid Effectiveness Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Developing youth’s assets (eg, coping strategies and activity scheduling to promote positive affect) and linkage to health-promoting resources (eg, social support and access to safe spaces) may reduce suicidal ideation. EA-SGM people who can envision a healthy future in which they achieve their long-term goals have, on average, great psychological well-being [ 20 ], few risk behaviors [ 21 , 22 ], and improved use of health services [ 23 ]. These findings are consistent with the suicide prevention literature, in which goal-action consistency is targeted to reduce suicide risk [ 24 - 26 ] and improve mood regulation [ 27 , 28 ], and social connection is viewed as a factor that reduces the likelihood of developing suicidal ideation [ 29 , 30 ] or the intensity of suicidal ideation [ 31 ].…”