Ways of coping and perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV: moderation by sex and sexual orientation

ABSTRACT

Perceived HIV-related stigma continues to persist among people living with HIV and coping strategies are crucial to overall health. Coping may be associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. However, research examining differences by sex and sexual orientation is lacking. Therefore, the aims of the study were to assess the association between ways of coping and perceived HIV-related stigma, and to examine the relationship by sex and sexual orientation. Data were obtained from 346 individuals (191 men and 155 women) living with HIV. Multiple linear regression models showed that overall, distancing, and attack/escape avoidance coping were positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma among the overall population, among men who have sex with men (MSM), and among women overall and heterosexual women. Among men overall, distancing and attack/escape avoidance coping were positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. Among women who have sex with women (WSW), attack/escape avoidance coping was positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. Effect sizes indicated small effects for overall coping and medium to large effects for distancing and attack/escape avoidance coping. Interventions focused on reducing perceived HIV-related stigma among populations living with HIV should address distancing and attack/escape avoidance strategies especially among women, regardless of sexual orientation, and MSM.

KEYWORDS:

• Disparities
• stress
• HIV
• MSM
• men
• women

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH097486) awarded to the second author (JMS). M. J. Brown is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH115794). We would like to thank the individuals who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [K01MH115794,R01MH097486].