ABSTRACT

This study explored experiences of HIV stigma among gay men in Finland and the impact of these experiences on decision-making concerning HIV status disclosure. Seventeen gay men living with HIV in Finland participated in a qualitative interview study and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results focus on the following themes: (1) “Social support impedes social stigma;” (2) “Social support and the risk of HIV stigma,” which describes how the pursuit of social support can expose some individuals to stigma; and (3) “HIV concealment motivation as a coping strategy,” focusing on the motivation to conceal one’s HIV status from others to avoid stigma. It is necessary to promote awareness and understanding of HIV in Finnish society, to challenge HIV stigma and, crucially, to facilitate access to social support among those diagnosed with HIV. This is likely to have favorable implications for both psychological and public health.

摘要

本研究探讨了芬兰男同性恋者遭受艾滋病毒耻辱的经历以及这些经历对有关艾滋病毒状况披露的决策的影响。芬兰 17 名感染 HIV 的男同性恋者参加了一项定性访谈研究，并使用主题分析对数据进行了分析。结果集中在以下主题：（1）“社会支持阻碍社会污名化；” (2) “社会支持与 HIV 污名化的风险”，描述了寻求社会支持如何使一些人面临污名化；（3）“作为应对策略的艾滋病隐瞒动机”，侧重于向他人隐瞒自己的艾滋病毒状况以避免被污名化的动机。有必要提高芬兰社会对艾滋病毒的认识和理解，挑战艾滋病毒的污名，最重要的是，促进艾滋病毒感染者获得社会支持。这可能对心理和公共健康产生有利影响。