Distinct coping combinations are associated with depression and support service utilization in men who have sex with men living with HIV.

Abstract

Stigma and stress may place HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIV+ MSM) at risk for depression. Additionally, HIV+ MSM might utilize multiple HIV-related services as a way to gain support for, and more effectively manage, HIV-related stressors. Although prior research has demonstrated that depression severity and utilizing support services are associated with functional or dysfunctional coping strategies, researchers have not investigated the impact of different coping combinations—specifically, the concurrent use of functional and dysfunctional strategies—in this population. Thus, we explored (1) how items on one measure of coping, the Brief COPE, capture HIV-related coping of HIV+ MSM using Principal Components Analysis, (2) how HIV+ MSM’s coping groups into unique combinations, and (3) how these coping combinations relate to depression and the scope of HIV-related support service utilization. Our sample consisted of 170 HIV+ MSM engaged with medical care. Results indicated the use of both functional and dysfunctional coping strategies. Unique combinations of functional and dysfunctional strategies showed differential associations with depression and the extent of HIV-related support service utilization. Specifically, individuals who engaged in low levels of both functional and dysfunctional coping, compared to individuals who more frequently engaged in functional coping strategies, were significantly less likely to utilize a range of critical HIV-related services. Individuals who reported frequent use of dysfunctional coping strategies, regardless of functional coping strategy use, reported higher levels of depression. Therefore, providers should continue to focus more closely on identifying functional coping strategies and reducing dysfunctional coping when working with HIV+ MSM.

Distinct Coping Profiles Are Associated With Mental Health Differences in Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adults

“…Based on our findings, dysfunctional coping strategies appear to have a greater individual effect on levels of depressive symptoms and suicidality for TGNC individuals than the presence of functional coping strategies alone. This is a finding that has been previously reported using a sexual minority sample (Rood et al., ). It may be that this finding holds true across sexual and gender minority samples and, thus, should be investigated further.…”

“…The proportional odds model estimated the odds of being in a less severe depression category, with the HFLD, the hypothesized "optimal" coping profile, as the reference group. This choice reflects findings from the extant literature, which has shown that the frequent use of functional coping strategies, in comparison to dysfunctional strategies, are more commonly associated with favorable health outcomes (e.g., Rood, McConnell, & Pantalone, 2015). Next, we tested for an association between the coping profiles and suicidality prior to transition/gender affirmation by fitting a logistic regression model, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.…”

Inter-Group and Intraminority-Group Discrimination Experiences and the Coping Responses of Latino Sexual Minority Men Living With HIV

“…Doing so embraces the inherent knowledge and skills within an individual and suggests that these traditionally marginalized communities have, in spite of facing multiple adversities, developed resilient responses to these experiences. 60 Our results also showed two coping strategies (i.e., spirituality and positive reframing) seemed to emerge more strongly in response to inter-group discrimination experiences. Of note, these strategies aim to change one's own outlook or interpretation rather than to bring about a change in the external circumstances of the situation.…”

Pilot intervention for discrimination-related coping among HIV-positive Black sexual minority men.

“…Prior research and guidance suggest that the factor structure of the Brief COPE depends on the context and population being studied and, thus, researchers have used exploratory factor analysis to identify subscales for their specific sample (Carver, 1997; Krägeloh, 2011; Rood, McConnell, & Pantalone, 2015). In our study, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis using varimax rotation and extracted eight factors with an eigenvalue >1 (Comrey & Lee, 2013; Kaiser, 1960).…”