Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 394-409).

This study aimed to investigate how “outness,” spirituality/religiosity, gay identity affirmation and demographic factors relate to each other and predict internalized homophobia (IH). IH is linked to a host of negative outcomes. The study took place over three months at the 2012 New York Pride parades in all five boroughs. Participants were recruited via the cross-sectional street-intercept approach, 195 of whom met the inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. In sum, the sample consisted of a highly educated, mostly white, high-income subset of men. The regression model indicated that gay identity importance and being “out” to world were predictive of IH. There were also significant differences in participation in gay activities along the lines of education and race. Same sex attracted men who earned a four-year college degree reported more participation in gay activities compared to those of lower attainment levels. Compared to White men, Latino men participated in less gay activities, possibly due to cultural factors. Men who have higher levels of affirmation were more likely to participated in gay activities, which could include pride, which suggests a potential bias. Buddhists reported unusually high levels of internalized homophobia compared to other spiritual and religious practices and orientations. Finally, there were no significant differences in homophobia with race, but there was one with religion. Christians exhibited statistically significantly higher levels of internalized homophobia compared to those who were nonreligious namely atheists, agnostics, and the spiritual but not religious. Implications for health promotion were discussed.

Gender role issues have been an integral part of psychology since the 1970s. More recently, theories and research have surfaced concerning the issues of maleness in our society. Most of these theories focus on masculine gender role and how it affects men in various ways, e.g., their psychological well-being, substance use, relational abilities, and help-seeking behaviors. One area of maleness that has consistently been left out of the Masculine Role Conflict (MRC) debate is that of homosexuality. As a gay man develops, he finds himself at odds with society over something that he experiences biologically as normal and appropriate. It is the contention of this paper that MRC is an issue related to psychological distress among gay men and not psychological weakness in gay men, per se.

Black South African men who have sex with men (MSM) face a set of adverse circumstances, including economic hardship and stigmatization, that combine to put them at an elevated risk for hazardous substance use and HIV infection. This creates a context where substance use is normative and high-risk sexual behavior is often engaged in covertly and under the influence of intoxicating substances. The overarching objective of this dissertation was to explore determinants of hazardous drinking and HIV risk behavior among black South African MSM with a particular focus on the role of social networks. In order to achieve this, I used data drawn from the study, “HIV and Sexual Risk in African MSM in South African Townships” (R01-MH083557; PI: Sandfort, PhD). First, I conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies that used social network analysis to evaluate alcohol use among adults in order to answer the question: how have social network characteristics been shown to influence adults’ drinking behaviors, both in terms of characteristics of their network structures and characteristics of their network ties? Results of the review demonstrated that characteristics of one’s peers as well as social network structure influenced egos’ alcohol consumption in a variety of ways and across settings. Second, I described drug and alcohol use among black South African MSM and identified determinants of hazardous drinking, a highly prevalent form of alcohol use identified in the sample. The results showed that hazardous drinking was highly prevalent and multiple indicators of social vulnerability were identified as independent determinants of hazardous drinking. Third, I assessed the relationship between substance use and sexual risk behavior and explored the moderating effects of psychosocial factors. The results showed that there was not a main effect between substance use and sexual risk behavior; however, among men with high intentions to engage in safer sex, substance use was associated with increased risky sexual behavior. Overall, this dissertation increased our understanding of social networks, substance use and HIV risk behavior among black South African MSM. Our results suggest the importance of using pre-existing social networks to deliver potential interventions. The results also suggest that the most vulnerable members of this community are at increased risk of hazardous drinking. Lastly, efforts to reduce HIV risk behavior should focus on both increasing safer sex intentions and negating the impact of substance use on sexual risk behavior. Taken together, these studies provide insight for developing potential interventions, including intervention that use social network data to facilitate behavioral change, as well as undertaking further research among a critical population.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 18, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-281).

No description available.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Arts of the University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Clinical Psychology. Johannesburg, January 1993. / Research has revealed that many gay men continue to participate in high-risk sexual practice them at risk of expoasure to the AIDS viirus. The locus of control construct and the Health Belief Model were employed by this study in an attempt to identify those psychosocial factors which might influence gay men to adopt or neglect health protective behaviour.[Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]. / AC2017

No description available.

This thesis explored gay male carers’ experience of caring for their partner, brother or friend who had HIV/AIDS. Through using phenomenological methodology (van Manen, 1990), the day-to-day caring experiences were uncovered. The data gathered were then analysed through a nursing ‘lens’, with the concept of stigma as an anchoring point. The dual stigmas of homophobia and AIDS phobia impacted on the daily lives of these men as they cared for their loved one. The research identified six themes. These were: 1) the relationship; 2) coping with HIV and AIDS; 3) the corporal impact of HIV/AIDS; 4) experiences of carers including the absence of others; 5) living daily with the virus: Demands of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); and 6) saying goodbye, but wanting to keep the memory alive. The caring these men undertook, for which they were frequently unprepared, was intensive and complex, but because of their commitment and love they battled on. Because of a sense of shame associated with AIDS phobia on the part of the PLWHA, the carer often had to undertake this care in isolation, without support from family, friends or home health care agencies. The carers struggled with not only the demands of day-to-day care, but also with non-acceptance from family, both of the nature of the relationship with their partner and of their homosexuality. Family members were forced, often with great difficulty, to acknowledge the close commitment the men had to each other. Recognition that one had a terminal disease, HIV/AIDS was also required. The fear of potential transmission was high among carers, friends and family members. Notably, there was an absence of blame on the part of the carer towards his partner for contracting HIV/AIDS. The physical decline and marking of the body further stigmatised the PLWHA, which added to carers’ burdens. They endeavoured to minimise the physical decline in their partner, so he could continue to pass as healthy, and attempted to make the day-to-day living as normal as possible. The methods of combating weight loss and opportunistic infections meant frequent medical appointments, complex intensive medical procedures and help with personal care, which was undertaken at home largely without support from health care staff. Carers frequently struggled also with their partner’s denial of being ill. One strategy all carers used was to escape with their partners from their everyday life in Melbourne and attempt metaphorically to leave the HIV/AIDS behind; this was a time when they could rekindle their life together as it was before HIV/AIDS came into their lives. Some carers chose to holiday without their partner, to give themselves a break from the day-to-day caring, while others planned and took holidays with their partner. The decline of the health in the PLWHA meant that family members had to recognise and accept both the nature of the relationship and the presence of the disease. This recognition and acceptance often came only when the partner was very ill, even at the point of dying. Carers and their partners discussed the potential use of euthanasia, as a means of ending the final phase of life with some dignity. One carer and his partner used euthanasia, despite its illegal status. The main concern for all carers was providing comfort and a reduction in the pain associated with HIV/AIDS for the partner. The widespread grief associated with HIV/AIDS was evident amongst these carers. All had known other gay men who had died, some carers own partner had died, or was about to die. There was an overwhelming sense of grief, which at times was repressed as a means of coping day-to-day. All carers felt it was important and necessary to remember those lost to HIV/AIDS through the various public memorials, as they did not want their partner to be just another faceless person lost to this disease. This phenomenological study of carers’ experience highlights the need for health care workers to be aware of the differing strategies that gay men use to cope with HIV/AIDS. While it may seem that the carers are coping with care of their partner, the outer façade is not always an accurate portrayal of the true situation. Health care workers should enquire as to the assistance these carers need from health care services in order to continue to care for their loved one. Such assistance can be the simple recognition of the partner and acceptance of them as part of the PLWHA’s network; this inclusion and acceptance is half the battle.

This is a qualitative study forming half of a coursework/thesis MA in Community Education (HRD). It investigates some of the influences affecting gay men growing up in rural communities. It provides material that may be useful in developing education programs for gay men themselves, for the general community and particularly for health educators. The study illustrates and highlights these issues by presenting extracts and case studies from twenty indepth interviews with rural homosexually active men. It looks at factors affecting homosexual identity formation in rural communities and finds there are common influences of family, religion, school and role models. It also identifies and examines other influences of a rural nature, including concepts of masculinity, heterosexism and homophobia, which may have a very restrictive effect on an emerging homosexual identity. The effects of such influences are explored, revealing common issues of isolation, loneliness and lack of self esteem. The study reveals some of the particular difficulties faced by young men becoming aware of and dealing with their emerging homosexuality particularly in a rural community. Resultant behaviour is investigated and found to include for some a fairly successful integration of homosexuality into their lives, but for others there are common behaviours of denial, moving away from the community, or contemplation of suicide. The study highlights the importance of contacts with gay-identified men for support and the need to be exposed to role models with whom gay men can identify. In this respect, the influence on smaller communities of the mass media is found to be having an increasing significance Unfortunately, the study also postulates that broader and positive changes in the wider community may have served to heighten difficulties faced by rural men if such changes are not mirrored at the local level. An awareness of increasing acceptance and support for gay men in the wider community may be frustrating at least, if local support has not also developed. In fact the study finds support for the assertions by other researchers that there are links between sexuality and recent increases in rural male youth suicide. The findings support the view that sexuality may play a significant part in the contemplation of suicide by young gay men. The particular value of the study is in exploring the issues through the words of the men themselves. The extracts and case studies offer rich and varied illustrations of growing up gay in the country.