title: Self-in-love versus self-in-stigma: implications of relationship quality and love attitudes on self-stigma and mental health among HIV-positive men having sex with men.
abstract: The present study examines the mediating effect of love attitude on the associations between relationship quality with self-stigma and mental health among HIV-positive men having sex with men (MSM). Participants included 211 HIV-positive MSM (Mage= 41.77 years, SD = 11.10) and they were assessed on their relationship quality, love attitudes, HIV-positive self-stigma, and mental health. Structural equation modeling showed that the model fit the data well, χ2(50) = 152.80, p < .05, comparative fit index = .94, non-normed fit index = .92, standardized root mean square residual = .08. The indirect effect of perceived relationship quality on self-stigma was significant through love attitude. The indirect effect of love attitude on mental health was significant through reduced self-stigma. The outcomes differed by the number of partners, partner's knowledge of HIV-positive status, relationship nature, and marital status. Implications for developing a positive self-in-love to diminish self-stigma were discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Winnie W S
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Connie Y Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: b AIDS Concern , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chidgey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology
keywords: HIV-positive men having sex with men; love attitudes; mental health; relationship quality; self-stigma