Loneliness as a sexual risk factor for male Mexican migrant workers.
HIV/AIDs risk among migrant workers is often examined through individual determinants with limited consideration of social context. We used data from systematic ethnographic observations, structured interviews (n = 50), and life history interviews (n = 10) to examine the relationship between loneliness and HIV/AIDS risk for recently arrived (within the last 3 years) male Mexican migrant workers in New York City. Higher levels of loneliness were strongly associated with frequency of sexual risk behavior (r = 0.64; P = .008). From our ethnographic observations, we found that loneliness was a dominant element in workers' migration experience and that 2 different kinds of social spaces served as supportive environments for dealing with loneliness: bars or dance clubs and Catholic churches. Loneliness should be addressed as a critical factor in reducing HIV/AIDS risk among Mexican male migrant workers.
Muñoz-Laboy
Miguel
M
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA. mam172@columbia.edu
Hirsch
Jennifer S
JS
Quispe-Lazaro
Arturo
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*