Abstract
Background. Directly disclosing a positive HIV serostatus to family members can affect psychological and disease status. Perceptions that one is in a supportive family environment may moderate these effects; however, ethnic differences may exist in the support processes of families coping with HIV. Methods. We examined the role of serostatus disclosure to parents, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity (Latino versus non-Hispanic White) in explaining disease status (HIV Viral Load, CD4+ cell count) in a sample of men living with HIV (MLWH). Men (n = 120) reported whether they had disclosed their serostatus to their mothers and fathers, rated their perceptions of HIV-specific social support received from family members, and provided morning peripheral venous blood samples to assess immune function. We also collected psychosocial and urinary neuroendocrine indicators of stress/distress as possible mediator variables. Results. A three-way interaction emerged between serostatus disclosure to mothers, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity in explaining both viral load and CD4+ cell count. Non-Hispanic White men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving high family support had a lower viral load and higher CD4+ cell count, but Latino men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving low family support had a higher viral load. These associations were not accounted for by men's medication adherence, psychological distress, or neuroendocrine hormones. Disclosure to fathers was not related to disease status. Conclusions. The effects of serostatus disclosure on disease status may depend, in part, on ethnic differences in the interpersonal processes of men's close family relationships.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 693-699 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Brain, Behavior, and Immunity |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Ethnic differences
- HIV serostatus disclosure
- HIV-specific social support
- Immune function
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Cite this
Men's serostatus disclosure to parents : Associations among social support, ethnicity, and disease status in men living with HIV. / Fekete, Erin M.; Antoni, Michael H; Lopez, Corina R.; Durán, Ron E.; Penedo, Frank J.; Bandiera, Frank C.; Fletcher, Mary Ann; Klimas, Nancy; Kumar, Mahendra; Schneiderman, Neil.
In: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, Vol. 23, No. 5, 01.07.2009, p. 693-699.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Men's serostatus disclosure to parents
T2 - Associations among social support, ethnicity, and disease status in men living with HIV
AU - Fekete, Erin M.
AU - Antoni, Michael H
AU - Lopez, Corina R.
AU - Durán, Ron E.
AU - Penedo, Frank J.
AU - Bandiera, Frank C.
AU - Fletcher, Mary Ann
AU - Klimas, Nancy
AU - Kumar, Mahendra
AU - Schneiderman, Neil
PY - 2009/7/1
Y1 - 2009/7/1
N2 - Background. Directly disclosing a positive HIV serostatus to family members can affect psychological and disease status. Perceptions that one is in a supportive family environment may moderate these effects; however, ethnic differences may exist in the support processes of families coping with HIV. Methods. We examined the role of serostatus disclosure to parents, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity (Latino versus non-Hispanic White) in explaining disease status (HIV Viral Load, CD4+ cell count) in a sample of men living with HIV (MLWH). Men (n = 120) reported whether they had disclosed their serostatus to their mothers and fathers, rated their perceptions of HIV-specific social support received from family members, and provided morning peripheral venous blood samples to assess immune function. We also collected psychosocial and urinary neuroendocrine indicators of stress/distress as possible mediator variables. Results. A three-way interaction emerged between serostatus disclosure to mothers, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity in explaining both viral load and CD4+ cell count. Non-Hispanic White men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving high family support had a lower viral load and higher CD4+ cell count, but Latino men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving low family support had a higher viral load. These associations were not accounted for by men's medication adherence, psychological distress, or neuroendocrine hormones. Disclosure to fathers was not related to disease status. Conclusions. The effects of serostatus disclosure on disease status may depend, in part, on ethnic differences in the interpersonal processes of men's close family relationships.
AB - Background. Directly disclosing a positive HIV serostatus to family members can affect psychological and disease status. Perceptions that one is in a supportive family environment may moderate these effects; however, ethnic differences may exist in the support processes of families coping with HIV. Methods. We examined the role of serostatus disclosure to parents, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity (Latino versus non-Hispanic White) in explaining disease status (HIV Viral Load, CD4+ cell count) in a sample of men living with HIV (MLWH). Men (n = 120) reported whether they had disclosed their serostatus to their mothers and fathers, rated their perceptions of HIV-specific social support received from family members, and provided morning peripheral venous blood samples to assess immune function. We also collected psychosocial and urinary neuroendocrine indicators of stress/distress as possible mediator variables. Results. A three-way interaction emerged between serostatus disclosure to mothers, HIV-specific family support, and ethnicity in explaining both viral load and CD4+ cell count. Non-Hispanic White men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving high family support had a lower viral load and higher CD4+ cell count, but Latino men who had disclosed to mothers and were receiving low family support had a higher viral load. These associations were not accounted for by men's medication adherence, psychological distress, or neuroendocrine hormones. Disclosure to fathers was not related to disease status. Conclusions. The effects of serostatus disclosure on disease status may depend, in part, on ethnic differences in the interpersonal processes of men's close family relationships.
KW - Ethnic differences
KW - HIV serostatus disclosure
KW - HIV-specific social support
KW - Immune function
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68649089728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68649089728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.01.007
DO - 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.01.007
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 693
EP - 699
JO - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
JF - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
SN - 0889-1591
IS - 5
ER -