The Impact of Parental Reaction to Sexual Orientation on Depressive Symptoms and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Hispanic Men Who Have Sex with Men.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship of parent reaction to sexual orientation with depressive symptoms and safer sex among Hispanic adult men who have sex with men (MSM). We also examined men's acculturation to the U.S. (Americanism) in relation with these variables. METHOD: Cross-sectional data collected from July 2011 to December 2012, from 125 MSM with a mean age of 43.02years. Instruments included the Perceived Parent Reaction Scale, the Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Safer Sex Behavior Questionnaire and the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale. Data was analyzed using Hierarchical generalized linear models (GZLM). RESULTS: Among men whose parents knew of their sexual orientation, rejection of son's sexual orientation from mother (p=0.032) and from father (p=0.004) was related to higher number of depressive symptoms. Parent reactions were not directly related to safer sex behaviors. Americanism was associated with lower depressive symptoms (p=0.001) but was not related to safer sex behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Current parent attitudes about their sons' sexual orientation had an effect on the sons' emotional wellbeing and acculturation may play a protective role. Mental health and primary care clinicians working with Hispanic MSM should assess for level of family support and provide resources to assist with disclosure and family acceptance of sexual orientation as indicated, particularly among recently immigrated men who may be at higher risk.

HIV Risk Perception, HIV Knowledge, and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Transgender Women in South Florida.

OBJECTIVES: Transgender women experience a variety of factors that may contribute to HIV risk. The purpose of this study was to explore links among HIV risk perception, knowledge, and sexual risk behaviors of transgender women. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A descriptive, correlational study design was used. Fifty transgender women from the South Florida area were enrolled in the study. MEASURES: Transgender women completed a demographic questionnaire and standardized instruments measuring HIV risk perception, knowledge, and sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS: Transgender women reported low levels of HIV risk perception, and had knowledge deficits regarding HIV risk/transmission. Some participants engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors. Predictors of sexual risk behaviors among transgender women were identified. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed with a larger sample size to continue studying factors that contribute to sexual risk behaviors in the understudied population of transgender women. Evidence-based guidelines are available to assist public health nurses in providing care for transgender women. Nurses must assess HIV perception risk and HIV knowledge and provide relevant education to transgender women on ways to minimize sexual risk.

The Tangled Branches (Las Ramas Enredadas): sexual risk, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence among Hispanic men who have sex with men.

Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a number of health disparities including high rates of HIV infection from high-risk sex, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence. Although some research is available to document the relationships of these health disparities in the literature, few studies have explored the intersection of these disparities and the factors that influence them. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences that Hispanic MSM residing in South Florida have with high-risk sex, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence. Focus groups were conducted and analyzed using grounded theory methodology until data saturation was reached (n = 20). Two core categories with subcategories emerged from the data: The Roots of Risk (Los raices del riesgo) and The Tangled Branches (Las Ramas Enredadas). The results of the study provided some important clinical implications as well as directions for future research with Hispanic MSM.

Clients' perspectives of the relationship of vulnerability and resilience in the context of HIV infection.

Clients with HIV infection have been described as both vulnerable and resilient. In addition, the conceptualization of clients with HIV infection has evolved. The purpose of this study is to examine this relationship among a sample of people with HIV infection. Qualitative description was the design used in this study. Interviews of 15 participants with HIV infection were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. All participants provided descriptions of the relationship of vulnerability and resilience in the context of HIV infection. Three different themes emerged from the data: Simultaneity, Dichotomy, and Vacillation. These themes were used to describe the relationship of vulnerability and resilience from the participants' perspectives. Among people with HIV infection vulnerability and resilience are related concepts. In the context of HIV infection, the relationship of these concepts needs further study in order to relate these concepts to the physical and mental health of people living with HIV infection, which may then assist in making these concepts less abstract and more clinically useful.

Motivation, management, and mastery: a theory of resilience in the context of HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Clients with HIV infection have been conceptualized as a resilient population. Although a few researchers have documented resilience among clients with HIV infection, a theory of resilience in the context of HIV infection has not been developed. The purpose of this study was to describe the process by which resilience occurs for clients in the context of HIV infection. METHOD: Grounded theory methodology was used to sample and analyze data from 15 qualitative interviews with adults with HIV infection. Data were collected until saturation was reached. RESULTS: A theory, motivation, management, and mastery, a description of the process by which resilience occurs in the context of HIV infection, emerged from the data. CONCLUSION: Many clients living with HIV infection are resilient, despite the physical, psychological, and social challenges of this chronic illness. Nursing interventions to promote resilience among clients with HIV infection should be directed toward identification of client motivation factors and disease management strategies that may influence health outcomes of people living with HIV infection.

Relationships as Risk: High risk sex, Substance Abuse, and Violence among Hispanic Men who have Sex with Men.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a number of health disparities including high rates of HIV from high risk sex. High rates of HIV infection are related to high risk sexual behaviors and multiple sexual partners. High rates of HIV infection in this population also may be related to high risk sexual behaviors that occur within the context of primary relationships. However, relatively little is know about about relationships among Hispanic MSM. In addition, little is known about the factors that contribute to risk within these primary relationships. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to use qualitative methods to explore the factors responsible for high risk sexual behavior within primary relationships among Hispanic MSM. METHODS: Twenty Hispanic MSM were recruited from various community sites in South Florida to participate in auditotaped focus groups. Data from the focus groups were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Data were collected until saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Participants identified a number of topics that contribute to risk: drugs/alcohol as risk, outside sex as risk, concealment of HIV infection, violence as risk, consensual and non-consensual sexual violence, and absent family support. Participants also described the relationship of sexual risk, substance abuse, and violence in the context of Hispanic MSM relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study provided some important clinical implications for clinicians providing care to Hispanic MSM. From the results of this study, directions for future research focused on the relationships of Hispanic MSM are evident.