title: Shame, self-acceptance and disclosure in the lives of gay men living with HIV: an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HIV-related stigma is a major driver of poor prognosis for the treatment and reduced spread of HIV. The present article provides a qualitative analysis surrounding various themes related to stigma and shame as a result HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight gay men recruited from a community HIV clinic contacted the researchers in response to a study involving participation in a structured, eight-week group intervention for HIV-related stigma. Following this group, three men took part in open-ended interviews about their thoughts and experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to examine the participants' experiences surrounding shame and stigma related to living with HIV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three superordinate themes were identified: social support and the disclosure of serostatus, stigma associated with serosorting and attempts to negotiate a spoiled identity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In San Francisco, a city with a great deal of acceptance surrounding HIV and a large, politically active community of persons living with HIV, gay men continue to struggle with disclosure and stigma. This stigma may be an unexpected result of a high degree of HIV testing and attempts by both HIV-positive and negative gay men to practise serosorting.
authors.affiliation: a Alliance Health Project, Department of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Skinta
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Brandrett
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dilley
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D030881:Disclosure; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012495:San Francisco; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support