HIV/AIDS stigma: measurement and relationships to psycho-behavioral factors in Latino gay/bisexual men and transgender women

AIDS Care. 2013;25(12):1559-68. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2013.793268. Epub 2013 May 14.

Abstract

Despite the increased interest in HIV/AIDS stigma and its negative effects on the health and social support of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), little attention has been given to its assessment among Latino gay/ bisexual men and transgender women (GBT) living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to develop a multidimensional assessment of HIV/AIDS stigma for Latino GBT living with HIV/AIDS, and to test whether such stigma is related to self-esteem, safe sex self-efficacy, social support, and alcohol, and drug use. The sample included 170 HIV+ Latino GBT persons. The results revealed three dimensions of stigma: internalized, perceived, and enacted HIV/AIDS stigma. Enacted HIV/AIDS stigma comprised two domains: generalized and romantic and sexual. Generalized enacted HIV/AIDS stigma was related to most outcomes. Internalized HIV/AIDS stigma mediated the associations between generalized enacted HIV/AIDS stigma and self-esteem and safe sex self-efficacy. In addition, romantic and sexual enacted HIV/AIDS stigma significantly predicted drug use. Perceived HIV/AIDS stigma was not associated with any outcome. These findings expand the understanding of the multidimensionality of stigma and the manner in which various features impact marginalized PLWHA.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / psychology
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism
  • Bisexuality / psychology*
  • Chicago / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minority Groups
  • Safe Sex
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Self Concept
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Stigma*
  • Social Support
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Transgender Persons / psychology*
  • United States / epidemiology