Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
Published on: September 26, 2011
"I've Been Forged in Fire": Preliminary Theory of HIV Prevention Resilience Among Sexual Minority Men With HIV Risk
Eva N Woodward1, Anthony W P Flynn2, Ethan H Mereish3
1Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, North Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Abstract:
HIV prevention research on sexual minority men focuses predominantly on risk factors, yet there is potential for enhancing HIV risk reduction by also examining resilience factors. We used mixed methods to explore HIV-related resilience pathways among 20 HIV-negative sexual minority men reporting HIV syndemic risks (childhood sexual abuse, partner abuse, mental health problems, substance abuse). Using grounded theory, we found that stress-related growth after mental health problems and/or unwanted sexual experiences can trigger development/use of HIV prevention resilience resources that, in turn, help sexual minority men cope and enhance HIV prevention behavior. We identified 23 HIV resilience resources at individual, interpersonal, community, health system, and structural levels. These findings informed a preliminary Theory of HIV Prevention Resilience for Sexual Minority Men. Our findings identified resilience resources to be nurtured through public health or mental health/substance use-focused interventions at broader levels to better address the HIV epidemic.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...

