Reconstruction of Meaning and Identity in the Wake of New Treatments for HIV Disease

Abstract

Qualitative interviewing revealed HIV-positive gay men's experience of their most meaningful activity and most important social role since initiating combination drug therapies. Participants discussed their most meaningful activities and social roles in the context of five time periods relative to having an HIV-positive diagnosis: before diagnosis (Before Crisis), after obtaining the diagnosis (Crisis), resolving the crisis related to having HIV (Resolution of Crisis), since starting combination therapies (Combination Therapy), and the future (Future). Findings indicate that the men made frequent and positive changes in both meaningful activities and social roles at Resolution of Crisis. Changes in social roles continued throughout the Combination Therapy time period; however, this was not the case for most meaningful activities. An existential theoretical frame is used to discuss the findings.

Key Words:

• Meaning
• identity
• HIV/AIDS
• gay men
• combination therapy