ERIC Number: EJ727141
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 19
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0739-9863
EISSN: N/A
Confronting Stigma: Community Involvement and Psychological Well-Being among HIV-Positive Latino Gay Men
Ramirez-Valles, Jesus; Fergus, Stevenson; Reisen, Carol A.; Poppen, Paul J.; Zea, Maria Cecilia
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, v27 n1 p101-119 2005
Theories of social integration and stress process posit that community involvement may buffer or may compensate the adverse effects of stigma on psychological well-being. In this article, the authors explore this thesis in a stigmatized and seldom studied group of HIV-positive Latino gay men. Specifically, they examine the effects of community involvement in AIDS and gay-related organizations (e.g., volunteerism and activism) and experienced homosexual stigma on three psychological well-being indicators (i.e., self-esteem, depression, and loneliness). The cross-sectional sample includes 155 HIV-positive men living in New York City and Washington, DC. Results suggest that experienced stigma attributed to homosexuality is associated with psychological well-being. Community involvement, however, seems to compensate the association between stigma and depression and loneliness, while buffering the association with self-esteem. Furthermore, community involvement appears to also heighten the perception of stigma.
Descriptors: Psychological Patterns, Community Involvement, Social Integration, Males, Homosexuality, Depression (Psychology), Well Being, Social Bias, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Communicable Diseases, Self Esteem
SAGE Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-583-2665 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: District of Columbia; New York; Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A