Social support and HIV prevention behaviors among urban HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Abstract

Objective: Supportive social relationships can have direct positive effects on health and mitigate the negative impact of stressors. This study investigated the main effect of perceived social support on STI/HIV risk and prevention behaviors. The buffering effect of perceived social support on the impact of proximal minority stressors, like internalized homonegativity, was also examined on one risk behavior specifically, condomless anal sex (CAS) without HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Methods: HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) were recruited using respondent driven sampling from three major Canadian urban centers (n = 1,409). GBM completed measures of perceived social support, proximal minority stress, and engagement in STI/HIV risk and prevention behaviors. Results: Higher perceived social support was positively associated with a several health behaviors, including recent STI and HIV testing, discussing HIV status with prospective partners, the use of behavioral HIV-risk reduction strategies during sexual encounters, and a lower likelihood of engaging in CAS without PrEP. There was evidence of moderation as well. Among GBM with higher perceived social support, internalized homonegativity was no longer associated with increased odds of engaging in CAS without PrEP. Conclusions: The results of the current study advance social support theory to GBM in the context of biomedical prevention, showing both evidence of both direct associations and buffering effects on STI/HIV risk and prevention behaviors. This highlights the importance of promoting social support seeking in interventions aimed at improving GBM health.

Loneliness and the sexual behavior of sexual minority men in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Sexual minority populations are at elevated risk for loneliness due to experiences of exclusion and stigmatization from family and peers (Gorczynski & Fasoli, 2022; Meyer, 2003; Mongelli et al., 2019; Tan & Saw, 2022)—a problem that was only exacerbated during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Because strict measures were implemented to stem the spread of COVID‐19, sexual minority individuals may have lost access to crucial support systems that mitigate the adverse effects of loneliness (Al‐Khouja et al., 2021; Hart et al., 2017; Hsieh, 2014; Skakoon‐Sparling et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2020). Loss of these support systems and subsequent feelings of loneliness may have unintended consequences in terms of risk‐taking behaviors for this population.…”

Is Internalised Homonegativity associated with HIV testing and HIV risk behaviours of men who have sex with men: a multilevel cross-sectional study of sub-Saharan African countries

“…In the minority stress model, access to social support is an important coping mechanism for dealing with minority stress 15. Belonging to a community can lessen the psychological aspect of stress process, most especially for single MSM 30 31. Research has shown that in the absence of group-level resources, even the most resourceful individuals have been found to struggle to cope 7.…”

Cognitive social capital as a health-enabling factor for STI testing among young men in Stockholm, Sweden: A cross-sectional population-based study

“…Social capital has also been associated with men's sexual and reproductive health. Studies have found that high social capital levels decreased men's risk for acquiring STIs [ 33 ] and facilitated HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) [ 34 ]. However, contradictory results have also been reported.…”