Does Gender Role Conflict Moderate the Relationship Between Lifetime Adversity and HIV Stigma in a Community Sample of HIV-Seropositive Black Men?

Abstract

Previous research highlights the need to better understand the complex relationships between factors marginalizing Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) living with HIV, including HIV stigma, trauma, and hegemonic masculinity. We examined associations between gender role conflict (GRC), trauma, and HIV stigma in Black MSMW living with HIV. 117 participants completed the UCLA Life Adversities Screener (LADS), measures of GRC, and HIV stigma. A multivariate model with age, gender role, and the LADS as predictors of stigma was statistically significant F (4, 110) = 12.81, p < .0001. The LADS was significantly associated with stigma ( b = 11.06, t = 4.17, p < .0001) and moderated by GRC ( b = 12.19, t = 2.25, p < .05); stigma increased significantly at high, but not low GRC. High GRC heightens the relationship between trauma and HIV stigma in Black MSMW. Future research must investigate associations among trauma burden, stigma, and GRC among vulnerable populations.