title: Disclosure of HIV Serostatus and Sexual Orientation Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in China.
abstract: This study addressed the issue of disclosing HIV status and sexual orientation, and explored the consequences of such disclosures among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 37 HIV-positive MSM. Of these participants, 3 (8.1%) disclosed neither their HIV status nor their sexual orientation to anyone; 24 (64.9%) voluntarily disclosed both their HIV-positive status and their sexual orientation; 7 (18.9%) voluntarily disclosed their HIV status only, and 3 (8.1%) involuntarily disclosed their HIV status and sexual orientation. Parents, partners, siblings and close friends were the most common disclosure targets. HIV-positive MSM were less likely to disclose their sexual orientation than their HIV status. The positive consequences of disclosure included receiving support, acquiring family care, reducing stress, improving mood and developing more positive values and beliefs. The negative consequences included the participants' perception of rejection and stigma toward themselves and their families. However, the stigma mainly comes from "outsiders" rather than family members and close friends. We did not find any differences with respect to consequences between participants who disclosed their HIV status only and those who disclosed both their HIV status and sexual orientation. In conclusion, partners, siblings and friends were main disclosure targets, and HIV positive MSM preferred to disclose their HIV serostatus than their sexual orientation. Voluntarily disclosing one's HIV status to significant others resulted in more positive consequences than negative consequences. Theses results were informative for developing mental health and coping interventions.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiuyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Peilian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. lzhan@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. fangxy@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012650:Self Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Consequences; Disclosure; HIV status; HIV-positive MSM; Sexual orientation