Relationship Stigma and HIV Risk Behavior Among Cisgender Men Partnered with Transgender Women: The Moderating Role of Sexual Identity.

Relationship Stigma and HIV Risk Behavior Among Cisgender Men Partnered with Transgender Women: The Moderating Role of Sexual Identity. Arch Sex Behav. 2019 Oct 04;: Authors: Gamarel KE, Sevelius JM, Reisner SL, Richardson RL, Darbes LA, Nemoto T, Operario D Abstract Cisgender men partnered with transgender women are an understudied and hard to engage population in HIV prevention efforts. Relationship stigma-the anticipation of negative treatment based on having a relationship with a member of a stigmatized group-has been linked to adverse health behaviors, but it remains unclear whether different sources of relationship stigma (i.e., family, friends, and the general public) are associated with HIV risk behaviors and whether these associations may vary by men's sexual identities (e.g., gay, bisexual, and heterosexual). The current study examined associations between relationship stigma and HIV risk behaviors and whether these associations were moderated by sexual identity. We recruited a convenience sample of 185 cisgender men in primary partnerships with transgender women to participate in a one-time survey. Gay identified men reported greater levels of relationship stigma from the general public compared with heterosexually identified men. In multivariable models, higher levels of relationship stigma from the public were associated with increased odds of engaging in drug use prior to having condomless sex and receiving an STI diagn...
Source: Archives of Sexual Behavior - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Arch Sex Behav Source Type: research