title: Factors associated with experiences of stigma in a sample of HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While methamphetamine users report high rates of internalized or self-stigma, few studies have examined experiences of stigma (i.e., stigmatization by others) and its correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study identified correlates of stigma experiences in a sample of 438 HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who were enrolled in a sexual risk reduction intervention in San Diego, CA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 96% of the sample reported experiences of stigma related to their use of methamphetamine. In multiple regression analysis, experiences of stigma were associated with binge use of methamphetamine, injection drug use, increased anger symptoms, reduced emotional support, and lifetime treatment for methamphetamine use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that experiences of stigma are common among methamphetamine users and that interventions to address this type of stigma and its correlates may offer social, psychological, and health benefits to HIV-positive methamphetamine-using MSM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
authors.forename: Shirley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zians
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000786:Anger; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005006:Ethnicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008694:Methamphetamine; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008694:Methamphetamine