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AIDS Care
Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 35, 2023 - Issue 5
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Research Article

The mediating role of social support between HIV stigma and sexual orientation-based medical mistrust among newly HIV-diagnosed gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

Miranda Hilla Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9501-7846View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Natalia Truszczynskib Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USAView further author information
,
Jacqueline Newboldc Department of Social Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GeorgiaView further author information
,
Robert Coffmand Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GeorgiaView further author information
,
Aisha Kinge Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USAView further author information
,
Monique J. Brownf Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9552-244XView further author information
ORCID Icon,
Asa Radixg Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York, NY, USAView further author information
,
Trace Kershawh Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USAView further author information
,
Sally Kirklewskid Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GeorgiaView further author information
,
Kathleen Sikkemae Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USAView further author information
,
Mohammad Rifat Haideri Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GeorgiaORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0690-8242View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Patrick Wilsone Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;j Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0006-5528View further author information
ORCID Icon &
Nathan Hansend Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GeorgiaView further author information
 show all
Pages 696-704 | Received 25 Oct 2021, Accepted 25 Aug 2022, Published online: 07 Oct 2022
 
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ABSTRACT

HIV-related stigma and medical mistrust are significant challenges to addressing HIV inequities among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV-related stigma is associated with high levels of medical mistrust, but there is limited knowledge regarding the mechanisms that link these variables. We examined the potential mediating roles of social support and coping in the relationship between perceived HIV stigma and sexual orientation based-medical mistrust among newly HIV-diagnosed MSM. We hypothesized that HIV-related stigma would be associated with mistrust and that social support, and coping would mediate this relationship. Data were obtained from 202 newly HIV-diagnosed (<1 year) MSM receiving care at community HIV clinics in New York. A path model indicated that HIV stigma was directly related to greater sexual orientation based medical mistrust, and that this relationship was mediated by social support. However, coping did not mediate the relationship between HIV stigma and mistrust. Efforts to increase social support and decrease stigma are critical for strengthening relationships between MSM and HIV care networks. Future research should assess the feasibility of designing and implementing interventions focused on increasing social network support and improving trust in the medical community among newly HIV-diagnosed MSM.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge our collaborations with the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and Harlem United, as well as the individuals who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health: [grant number R01 MH097651,T32 MH19105-31].

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