HIV sexual risk behavior following bereavement in gay men.
The present study followed a group of 100 gay men up to 1 year before and 1 year after losing a partner to AIDS (University of California, San Francisco Coping Project). Following bereavement, participants were at increased risk for engaging in unprotected anal intercourse: at 4 to 6 months for HIV-negative men and at 8 to 12 months for HIV-positive men. Sociodemographic variables, HIV serostatus, substance use, depression, prebereavement relationship quality, and social support did not explain sexual risk-taking in this sample. However, men who engaged in unprotected anal intercourse were twice as likely to be involved in a new primary relationship as those who did not. The authors concluded that risk varies over time by HIV status and may involve engagement in new relationships.
Mayne
T J
TJ
Department of Psychology, New York University, New York 10003-6634, USA. mayne@psych.nyu.edu
Acree
M
M
Chesney
M A
MA
Folkman
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000635:transmission*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors