Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An Intervention to Assist Men Who Have Sex with Men Disclose Their Serostatus to Family Members: Results from a Pilot Study

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to assist HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in forming and executing strategies for the disclosure of their serostatus to their families of origin. Results indicate that the intervention was successful in assisting men with the primary outcome of disclosure. Participants reported no regret with disclosures occurring during the intervention and follow-up period. Effects on secondary outcomes including family functioning, depression, loneliness, and perceived social support were inconclusive. Implications, refinements of this intervention, and suggestions for future disclosure research are provided.

Resumen

El objeto de la investigación fue evaluar la eficacia de una intervención que ayuda a los hombres VIH-positivos que tienen sexo con otros hombres (HSH) a formar y llevar a cabo estrategias para revelar su estado serológico a las familias de origen. Los resultados indican que la intervención fue exitosa, ayudando a los hombres con el resultado principal de la revelación. Los participantes comunicaron que no tenían remordimiento después de las revelaciones que ocurrieron durante la intervención y el seguimiento. Los efectos sobre los resultados secundarios incluyendo el funcionamiento familiar, la depresión, la soledad, y la percepción del apoyo social percibido, no fueron concluyentes. Las implicaciones, los mejoramientos de la intervención, y las sugerencias para investigaciones sobre la revelación en el futuro están incluidos.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Kalichman SC, Di Marco M, Austin J, Luke W, Di Fonzo K. Stress, social support, and HIV-status disclosure to family and friends among HIV-positive men and women. J Behav Med. 2003;26:315–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Leask C, Elford J, Bor R, Miller R, Johnson M. Selective disclosure: A pilot investigation into changes in family relationships since HIV diagnosis. J Fam Ther. 1997;19:59–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Serovich JM, Grafsky EL, Craft SM. Does family matter to HIV-positive men who have sex with men? J Marital Fam Ther. 2010. Epub ahead of print.

  4. Derlega VJ, Lovejoy D, Winstead BA. Personal accounts of disclosing and concealing HIV-positive test results: Weighing the benefits and risks. In: Derlega V, Barbee A, editors. HIV infection and social interaction. Newbury Park: Sage; 1998. p. 147–64.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fekete EM, Antoni MH, Lopez CR, Dura′n RE, Penedo FJ, Frank J, Bandiera FC, Fletcher MA, Klimas N, Kumar M, Schneiderman N. Men’s serostatus disclosure to parents: associations among social support, ethnicity, and disease status in men living with HIV. Brain Beh Immun. 2009;23:693–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gore-Felton C, Koopan C, Power R, Israelski DM, Duran R, Porter J, Sarlati S, Spiegel D, Palmer L. Psychosocial factors associated with disclosure of HIV positive serostatus: Understanding the influence of depression and social support. J HIV AIDS Soc Serv. 2008;7(1):83–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Serovich JM. A test of two HIV disclosure theories. AIDS Educ Prev. 2001;13:355–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Thibaut JW, Kelley HH. The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley; 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Barrera M Jr. Social support in the adjustment of pregnant adolescents: Assessment issues. In: Gottlieb BH, editor. Social networks and social support. Beverly Hills: Sage; 1981. p. 69–96.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Procidano ME, Heller K. Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies. Am J Community Psychol. 1983;11:1–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Radloff L. The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas. 1977;1:385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Miller LC, Berg JH, Archer RL. Openness: Individuals who elicit intimate self-disclosure. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1983;44:1234–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gerson AC, Perlman D. Loneliness and expressive communication. J Abnorm Psychol. 1979;88:258–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McCubbin H, Thompson A. Family assessment inventories for research and practice. Madison: University of Wisconsin System; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R34MH074363) to the first author. We would like to thank the men who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Julianne M. Serovich, Erika L. Grafsky, Erica E. Hartwell & David W. Andrist

  2. Department of Educational Policy and Leadership, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Sandra J. Reed

Authors
  1. Julianne M. Serovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sandra J. Reed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Erika L. Grafsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Erica E. Hartwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David W. Andrist
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julianne M. Serovich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Serovich, J.M., Reed, S.J., Grafsky, E.L. et al. An Intervention to Assist Men Who Have Sex with Men Disclose Their Serostatus to Family Members: Results from a Pilot Study. AIDS Behav 15, 1647–1653 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9905-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9905-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation