Self regard and concealment of homosexuality as predictors of CD4+ cell count over time among hiv seropositive gay men

[Syphilis in young Brazilian military recruits in 2016: sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical aspects]

The objective was to characterize sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical aspects in young Brazilian military recruits according to prevalence of syphilis. This was a descriptive study based on a nationwide population-based survey in 2016 with a probabilistic sample of military recruits 17 to 22 years of age. A confidential self-applied questionnaire was used. Blood samples were drawn from participants for treponemal and non-treponemal syphilis tests. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to estimate syphilis prevalence rates and distribution of frequencies between the target variables, considering 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), after weighting the data. Of the total of 37,282 participants, 73.7% were sexually initiated. Prevalence rates for lifetime and confirmed syphilis were 1.6% and 1.1%, respectively. The following population variables showed higher prevalence of syphilis: lack of Internet access at home; initiation of sexual activity before 14 years of age; men who have sex with men; more than five sexual partners; having received presents, drugs, or other incentives in exchange for sex; and prior history of symptoms of sexually transmissible infections. An increase was observed in syphilis in Brazilian military recruits when compared to previous surveys. This increase emphasizes the importance of this sentinel population for performing active surveillance in order to support healthcare strategies for youth, including in the school system.

Life Lessons from Women with HIV: Mutuality, Self-Awareness, and Self-Efficacy

Women with HIV in the United States cope with multiple traumas that influence adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and well-being. Narrative themes from three life turning points and a projective story task were compared for two groups of women with HIV (HIV well-managed vs. HIV not well-managed, matched on demographics and narrative word count) to understand predictors of successful outcomes. The well-managed group (n = 10) was virally suppressed and reported ≥95% ART adherence; the not well-managed group (n = 10) had detectable viral load and reported <95% ART adherence. Women were predominantly African American with low socioeconomic status and averaged 46.51 years. A three-stage coding process (with coders blind to group status in stages 1 and 2) involved (1) line by line thematic analyses that generated 155 subthemes reflecting six content areas (interpersonal relationships; culture and community; sense of self; relationship to past, present, and future experiences; self-care; and motivators for change); (2) absence/presence of the 155 subthemes was compared for the two groups; the frequency of 37 subthemes was found to significantly differ; and (3) the 37 differentiating subthemes were conceptually integrated, revealing that the well-managed group's narratives more frequently reflected (a) mutuality (growth-fostering relationships involving reciprocal care and empathy); (b) self-awareness (recognition of personal strengths and weaknesses and multiple factors contributing to life choices and trajectories); and (c) self-efficacy (active coping, self-advocacy, and utilizing resources). Implications for treatment and interconnections among themes are discussed, emphasizing the factors that enable women to care for themselves and others.

"That's so gay!": Examining the covariates of hearing this expression among gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students

OBJECTIVE

The investigators examined the health and well-being correlates of hearing the popular phrase "that's so gay" among gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) emerging adults.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 114 self-identified GLB students aged 18 to 25 years.

METHODS

An online survey was distributed to students at a large public university in the Midwest during winter 2009.

RESULTS

Participants' social and physical well-being was negatively associated with hearing this phrase, specifically feeling isolated and experiencing physical health symptoms (ie, headaches, poor appetite, or eating problems).

CONCLUSIONS

College professionals and student leaders must acknowledge that the phrase is a form of heterosexist harassment. As such, policies addressing diversity and harassment should address students' use of this phrase, aiming to reduce its use. Additionally, colleges and universities should develop practices that counteract poorer well-being associated with hearing the phrase.

The impact of familism on physical and mental health among Hispanics in the United States

The rapidly expanding number of Hispanics living in USA has increased the need for their inclusion in research on physical and mental health. Current studies that have explored health outcomes among Hispanics have often noted an 'epidemiological paradox', in which there is a discrepancy between their minority status and positive health outcomes when compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Certain socio-cultural variables, in particular the value placed on family, have been largely implicated in these findings. This review will provide a summary of the literature exploring familism within the structure of the Hispanic family and its potential impact on health. We will focus on research exploring the plausible impact that family and familism values may have on the physical health (particularly within the HIV, diabetes, and breast cancer literature) and also on health behaviours of Hispanics, as well as its effect on mental health (particularly related to acculturative stress and caregiver stress). Throughout the review, we highlight some of the potential mechanisms by which familism may impact on the health status of Hispanics. We conclude the review by noting some of the clinical and ethical implications of this research, and by offering suggestions for future work in this area.

Sexual Orientation and Mental Health

This article provides an overview of current psychological research on mental health and sexual orientation, as well as clinical practice with sexual minorities. The historical context for current research questions and controversies is described, and the findings of recent empirical research on psychological well-being and distress among nonheterosexuals are summarized. The minority stress model is used to frame a discussion of stressors unique to sexual minorities and to consider their possible effects on psychological well-being. The possible ameliorative effects of adopting a sexual orientation identity are examined, followed by a discussion of how these ideas translate into contemporary clinical work with sexual minority clients. The review concludes with a brief discussion of priority areas for empirical research and clinical practice.