The lived experience of AIDS-related multiple losses by HIV-negative gay men

The gay male communities of the United States have experienced the most AIDS-related deaths over the longest period of time. The burden of grief for these men is unique and largely unaddressed in nursing research and practice. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of six HIV-negative gay men with AIDS-related multiple losses. The analysis of the interview data uncovered rich descriptions of the men's lives as uninfected gay males in the midst of an ongoing epidemic. The two overall themes that emerged from the narratives were the meaning of multiple losses and the management of the losses. The effects of AIDS-related losses permeated the lives of these men, resulting in significant emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual challenges. Concerns for health promotion and disease prevention, and implications for nursing practice, research, and education are offered.