Abstract

A qualitative interview study was conducted to understand the psychological impact of living with HIV among gay men in Finland. Seventeen gay men living with HIV were recruited at HIV support charities in Finland. The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. The analysis yielded three themes: (1) Self-Stigma and Threatened Self-Esteem; (2) Managing the Assimilation-Accommodation of HIV; and (3) Reconstrual of HIV, Its Meaning and Implications. Self-stigma was pervasive across participants’ accounts and appeared to impede the assimilation-accommodation of HIV in identity. The ability to reconstrue the meanings of HIV and its implications (from something negative to something positive) can facilitate the assimilation-accommodation of HIV in identity, restoring self-esteem, continuity and self-efficacy. The ability to reconstrue HIV may be an important determinant of psychological wellbeing. This should be the focus of behavioral and clinical interventions for enhancing psychological wellbeing in this population.

摘要

进行了定性访谈研究，以了解感染艾滋病毒对芬兰男同性恋者的心理影响。在芬兰的艾滋病毒支持慈善机构中招募了17名携带艾滋病毒的男同性恋者。使用定性主题分析对数据进行分析。分析得出三个主题：（1）自尊和受威胁的自尊；（2）管理艾滋病毒的同化适应；（3）重建艾滋病毒及其意义和含义。自我污名弥漫在参与者的叙述中，似乎阻碍了身份认同中艾滋病毒的同化。重新诠释HIV的含义及其含义（从消极到积极的意义）的能力可以促进HIV在身份方面的同化适应，恢复自尊，连续性和自我效能感。重新认识HIV的能力可能是心理健康的重要决定因素。这应该是行为和临床干预措施的重点，以增强该人群的心理健康。