Ethnicity, Emotional Distress, Stress-Related Disruption, and Coping among HIV Seropositive Gay Males

Differences in psychosocial factors that impact immune function and which, therefore, are relevant to HIV infection have been reported between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in the cross-cultural literature. To determine whether there were differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white HIV-seropositive homosexual males on life stressors, coping style, social support, and emotional distress, a sample (Hispanics = 27, non-Hispanic whites = 49) of participants in a five-year longitudinal study of HIV disease progression was assessed on relevant measures. Hispanics in this sample were not found to evidence psychosocial deficits as compared to non-Hispanic whites. Although not more stressed overall, Hispanics reportedhigher severity of stress on daily interactions related to their homosexual lifestyle than did their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Level ofacculturation isproposedas apossible explanation forthe striking similarities along most other psychosocial parameters.