Arryn Guy, Honor Woodward, Lynn Kannout, Steff Du Bois,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background: Individuals living with HIV navigate the health implications of HIV and HIV discrimination. This study aimed to examine changes in internalized stigma and avoidant coping among African American adults living with HIV and serious mental illness (SMI) following a peer-led intervention.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 16 patients were recruited using convenience sampling from an HIV clinic in an urban hospital setting in the United States for a community-based participatory research (CBPR) developed peer-led intervention pilot. Participants answered questions about their experiences of HIV-related discrimination, internalized stigma, and cognitive escape coping before and after participating in four 90-minute peer-led weekly group sessions. For data analysis, paired-samples t-test and linear regression with Hayes’ PROCESS Macro in SPSS 27 were used at a 5% significance level.
Results: There was a significant indirect effect of HIV-related discrimination on cognitive escape coping through internalized stigma (b = 0.28, 95% CI [0.03, 0.61]). Post-intervention non-significant associations suggest that a CBPR-developed peer-led intervention may buffer against the effects of HIV-related discrimination.
Conclusion: Our study provides initial support that community and peer support approaches may buffer against the effects of discrimination on internalized stigma and avoidant coping among African American individuals living with HIV and SMI.
Stephen Ramos, Winifred Guerra, Steve Du Bois,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
Introduction: Full-service sex workers (FSSWs) are relatively prevalent in the U.S. and are known to face criminalization, stigma, and other factors relating to poor health. The main aim of this study was compare the mental and physical health of full-service sex workers in the United States in 2019-2020
Methods: In this prospective cohort study, participants were recruited through national community samples from U.S.-based FSSW advocacy and community organizations. Data were collected from November 2019 to February 2020. The study sample (n=83) included mostly of the white (81.9%), cisgender females (66.3%), who were relatively young (28.01 [4.25]), and identified as a sexual minority (57.8%). Participants completed an online survey on mental (e.g., depression, anxiety) and physical (e.g., sleep, fatigue) health, using the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS-29). Mean (SD) and Frequency (%) were used for description and for data analysis z-tests in SPSS version 27 with 5% significant level were used.
Results: The sample of FSSWs reported significantly poorer health in all health domains compared to the U.S. general population reference indices. FSSWs showed higher levels of depression (p <.001), anxiety (p <.001), fatigue
(p <.001), sleep difficulties (p <.001), lower levels of physical functioning
(p <.001) and the ability to participate in social activities (p =.03) compared with the U.S. reference indices.
Conclusions: FSSWs experience significant mental and physical health disparities compared to general population. the need for further investigation of the social-ecological determinants of health for members of this marginalized community, many of whom are known to face health inequities.
