title: Thriving and Adapting: Resilience, Sense of Community, and Syndemics among Young Black Gay and Bisexual Men.
abstract: We examined resilience associated with the avoidance of psychosocial health conditions (i.e., syndemics) that increase vulnerability for HIV among young Black gay and bisexual men. We used analytic induction to compare a sample of 23 men who showed no evidence of syndemic conditions to a sample of 23 men who experienced syndemic conditions. The men who avoided syndemics reported supportive relationships with people who helped them to develop a strong sense of identity, provided them with opportunities to give back to their communities, and promoted positive norms about health. In contrast, the men experiencing syndemic conditions described numerous instances of trauma and oppression that infringed upon their desire to form positive relationships. Among these men, experiences of oppression were associated with shame, identity incongruence, social isolation, relational disconnection, mistrust of men, and expectations of further marginalization. We examined participants' experiences through the framework of the psychosocial sense of community. Results of this study provide evidence for using strength-based intervention strategies to prevent syndemic conditions. Findings suggest that to attenuate socio-structural barriers to health and comorbid psychosocial health concerns, interventions must address young men's social isolation and promote positive identity and sense of community.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Robin Lin
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D065840:Protective Factors; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D012933:Social Identification; D062487:Social Marginalization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents and young adults; Black men; Gay and bisexual men; HIV prevention; Resilience; Syndemics