Exploring the psychological impact of HIV: health comparisons of older Australian HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men.
Little is known about the impact of HIV on the mental health of older gay men. In a nationwide online survey, 1,135 Australian gay men aged 40 years and older reported on their physical and mental health. Compared with HIV-negative men, those with HIV were more likely to report currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition (37 vs. 25 %, p = 0.001), but no more likely to report treatment for a major physical health condition other than HIV (39 % vs. 40 %). On a measure of psychological distress, more HIV-positive men were highly distressed (14 vs. 8 %, p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in mental health across age groups for either HIV-positive or HIV-negative men. Underlying factors for poorer mental health included lower income (p = 0.003), not working (p = 0.004), living alone (p = 0.03), treatment for a major physical health condition (p < 0.001), recent experiences of discrimination (p = 0.03), and regarding one's sexual orientation as an essential part of self-identity (p < 0.001). With disparities between older HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men greater for mental than physical health, more attention may need to be given to the psychological well-being of those living with HIV, particularly by addressing underlying psychosocial factors.
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. a.lyons@latrobe.edu.au
Anthony
A
Lyons
Marian
M
Pitts
Jeffrey
J
Grierson
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006304:Health Status; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires