Thriving and Adapting: Resilience, Sense of Community, and Syndemics among Young Black Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

We examined resilience associated with the avoidance of psychosocial health conditions (i.e., syndemics) that increase vulnerability for HIV among young Black gay and bisexual men. We used analytic induction to compare a sample of 23 men who showed no evidence of syndemic conditions to a sample of 23 men who experienced syndemic conditions. The men who avoided syndemics reported supportive relationships with people who helped them to develop a strong sense of identity, provided them with opportunities to give back to their communities, and promoted positive norms about health. In contrast, the men experiencing syndemic conditions described numerous instances of trauma and oppression that infringed upon their desire to form positive relationships. Among these men, experiences of oppression were associated with shame, identity incongruence, social isolation, relational disconnection, mistrust of men, and expectations of further marginalization. We examined participants' experiences through the framework of the psychosocial sense of community. Results of this study provide evidence for using strength-based intervention strategies to prevent syndemic conditions. Findings suggest that to attenuate socio-structural barriers to health and comorbid psychosocial health concerns, interventions must address young men's social isolation and promote positive identity and sense of community. Keywords SyndemicsHIV prevention Gay and bisexual men Black men Resilience Adolescents and young adults

Indicators of HIV-risk resilience among men who have sex with men: a content analysis of online profiles

“…Using theoretically informed constructs, we defined resilience as the sum of 10 possible behavioural preferences or intentions that included: foreplay only or versatile sexual positions, being out about one’s sexual orientation identity, having a profile photo, seeking friendship, seeking a relationship, serosorting, not endorsing alcohol use, not endorsing drug use, sexual adventurism and safer sex. Consistent with prior research, 5,9,15,20,50,51 our content analysis of men’s profiles revealed that men endorsed a variety of resilience indicators (mean = 5.2; s.d. = 1.5; range = 0–9), despite networking in an online environment that may confer HIV risk.…”

“…5,9,15,20,50,51 While a rich body of evidence generated since the beginning of the HIV epidemic highlights how psychosocial deficits and risk behaviours may contribute to the disproportionate vulnerability to HIV experienced by MSM (e.g. depression, substance use, childhood sexual abuse, sexual risk behaviour), 44,45,47,60,61 research is urgently needed to understand how HIV-risk resilience operates in different risk contexts.…”

“It's Almost Like a Crab-in-a-Barrel Situation”: Stigma, Social Support, and Engagement in Care Among Black Men Living With HIV

“…Previous work has indicated that strong social and family connectedness may help Black MSM avoid syndemics (Reed & Miller, 2016) and may be an important component to Treatment as Prevention, given the relationship between social support and viral load suppression (Simoni et al, 2006). Social support may also buffer the effects of stigma.…”

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“…For trans and non‐binary adults, developing bonding capital through intimate relationships and social networks may be an important part of resilience in the face of the dramatic reconfiguration of their social world that may occur after coming out. Connection to a supportive community is critical for the development and activation of resilience for transgender people (Singh, Hays, and Watson ), LGBTQ+ people in general, and LGBTQ+ people of color specifically (Reed and Miller ). Many scholars document the importance of positive and affirming social networks for transgender people in the United States, particularly social networks in person or online with other transgender people (Cavalcante ; Gray ; Pinto, Melendez, and Spector ; Shapiro ).…”