SpringerLink
Log in

Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Cultural Predictors of Sexual Risk for HIV Infection Among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men

  • Original Article
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This study sought to replicate and extend an investigation by Diaz et al. (1999) on determinants of HIV risk among Latino gay and bisexual men living in San Francisco who were predominantly English-speaking. Compared to the Diaz et al. study, the current study sample consisted of predominantly Spanish-speaking MSM, who resided outside of HIV/AIDS epicenters and whose countries of origin were primarily Central & South American. The relationships of unprotected anal sex and multiple sexual partners with demographic, developmental, behavioral, cultural and psychosocial variables were examined. Data were collected in a convenience sample of 250 participants (primarily immigrants from El Salvador) residing in Virginia. Most men in the sample had more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months (62%) and more than a third had unprotected anal sex with a casual partner in the same time period. Communication about HIV, sexual attraction, machismo, and experiences of discrimination based on homosexual behavior were predictive of HIV risk behaviors. The findings support an integrative approach to investigating HIV risk among Latino MSM. Implications for prevention programs are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Almaguer, T. (1993). Chicano Men: A cartography of homosexual identity and behavior. In H. Abelove, M. A. Barale, and D. M. Halperin (Eds.), The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, (pp. 255–273). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayala, G., and Diaz, R. M. (2001). Racism, poverty and other truths about sex: Race, class and HIV risk among Latino gay men. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 35, 59–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonilla, L., and Porter, J. (1990). A comparison of Latino, Black, and non-Hispanic White attitudes toward homosexuality. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 437–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brislin, R. W., Lonner, W. J., and Thorndike, E. M. (1973). Cross-Cultural Research Methods. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A. (1998). The challenge of staying HIV-negative for Latin American immigrants. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 8, 61–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A. (1995). The sexual identity and behavior of Puerto Rican men who have sex with men. In G.M. Herek and B. Greene (Eds.), AIDS, Identity, and Community: the HIV epidemic and lesbians and gay men. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A., and Dolezal, C. (1996). HIV risk behaviors and obstacles to condom use among Puerto Rican men in New York city who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 1619–1622.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A., and Dolezal, C. (1995). Association between history of childhood sexual abuse and adult HIV-risk sexual behavior in Puerto Rican men who have sex with men. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19, 595–605.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A., Remien, R. H., Dolezal, C., and Wagner, G. (1997). Unsafe sex in the primary relationships of Puerto Rican men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 1, 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2001). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Year End Edition, 13, 2.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2002). HIV/AIDS Among Hispanics in the United States. Factsheet.

  • Diaz, R. M. (1996). Latino gay/bisexual men: Psycho-cultural barriers to safer sex practices. Psychology and AIDS Exchange. American Psychological Association, 21, 1, 7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. M., and Ayala, G. (1999). Love, passion, and rebellion: Ideologies of HIV risk among Latino gay men in the USA. Culture, Health, and Sexuality, 1, 277–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. M., Ayala, G., Bein, E., Henne, J., and Marin, B. V. (2001). The impact of homophobia, poverty, and racism on the mental health of gay and bisexual Latino men: Findings from 3 US cities. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 927–932.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. M., Ayala, G., and Marin, B. V. (2000). Latino gay men and HIV: Risk behavior as a sign of oppression. FOCUS: A Guide to AIDS Research and Counseling, 15, 1–4.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. M., Morales, E. S., Bein, E., Dilan, E., and Rodriguez, R. A. (1999). Predictors of sexual risk in Latino gay/bisexual men: The role of demographic, developmental, social cognitive, and behavioral variables. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 21(4), 480–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. M., Stall, R. D., Hoff, C., Daigle, D., and Coates, T. J. (1996). HIV risk among Latino gay men in the southwestern United States. AIDS Education and Prevention, 8, 415–429.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, T., Buehler, J. W., Castro, K. G., and Ward, J. W. (1993). AIDS trends among Hispanics in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 504–509.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dilorio, C., Hartwell, T., and Hansen (2002). Childhood sexual abuse and risk behaviors among men at high risk for HIV infection. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 214–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doll, L. S., Joy, D., Bartholow, B. N., Harrison, J. S., Bolan, G., Douglas, J. M., Saltsman, L. E., Moss, P. M., and Delgado, W. (1992). Self-reported Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse among adult homosexual and bisexual men. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 855–864.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbaum, G., Perdue, T., and Higgins, D. (1996). Non-gay-identification men who have sex with men: Formative results from Seattle, Washington. Public Health Reports-Supplement, 111(Suppl. 1), 36–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izazola-Licea, J. A., Gortmaker, S. L., Tolbert, K., De Gruttola, V., and Mann, J. (2000). Prevalence of same-gender sexual behavior and HIV in a probability household survey in Mexican men. The Journal of Sex Research, 37, 37–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, S. R. (2000). Introduction to the special issue: Defining gender, relationships, and power. Sex Roles, 42(7/8), 467–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. A., Somlai, A. M., DiFranceisco, W. J., Otto-Salaj, L. L., McAuliffe, T. L., Hackl, K. L., Heckman, T. G., Holtgrave, D. R., and Rompa, D. (2000). Bridging the gap between the science and service of HIV prevention: Transferring effective research-based HIV prevention interventions to community AIDS service providers. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 1082–1088.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, B. V. (1996). Cultural issues in HIV prevention for Latinos: Should we try to change gender roles?. In S. Oskamp and S. C. Thompson (Eds.), Understanding and Preventing HIV Risk Behavior: Safer Sex and Drug Use. The Claremont Symposium on Applied Social Psychology (pp. 157–176). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin, B. V., Gomez, C. A., Tschann, J. M., and Gregorich, S. E. (1997). Condom use in unmarried Latino men: A test of cultural constructs. Health Psychology, 16, 458–467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, V. B., and Marin, G. (1990). Effects of acculturation on knowledge of AIDS and HIV among Hispanics. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 110–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, G. (1989). AIDS prevention among Hispanics: Needs, risk behaviors, and cultural values. Public Health Reports, 104, 411–415.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, G., and Marin, B. V. (1991). Research with Hispanic Populations. California: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin, G., Sabogal, F., Marin, B. V., Otero-Sabogal, R., and Perez-Stable, E. (1987). Development of a short acculturation scale for Hispanics. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 9, 183–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, H. R. C., Marks, G., Simoni, J. M., Ruiz, M. S., and Richardson, J. L. (1995). Culturally sanctioned secrets? Latino men's nondisclosure of HIV infection to family, friends, and lovers. Health Psychology, 14, 6–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morales, E. S. (1990). HIV infection and Hispanic gay and bisexual men. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 212–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin, S. F., Vernon, K., Harcourt, J., Steward, W. T., Volk, J., Riess, T. H., Neilands, T. B., McLaughlin, M., and Coates, T. J. (2003). Why HIV infections have increased among men who have sex with men and what to do about it: Findings from California focus groups. AIDS and Behavior, 7, 353–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), HIV Prevention Bulletin, June 2001.

  • Parker, R. G., Herdt, G., and Carballo, M. (1996). Behavior in Latin American men: Implications for HIV/AIDS interventions. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 7, 62–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, P. L., Ostrow, D. G., and McKirnan, D. J. (1991). Behavioral interventions for the primary prevention of HIV infection among homosexual and bisexual men. Journal of Primary Prevention, 12, 19–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, J., Suarez, E., de la Rosa, G., Castro, M. A., and Zimmerman, M. A. (1994). AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior among Mexican gay and bisexual men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 6, 163–174.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Remien, R. H., Wagner, G., Dolezal, C., and Carballo-Dieguez, A. (2001). Factors associated with HIV sexual risk behavior in male couples of mixed HIV status. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 13, 31–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, K., and Epstein, J. A. (1996). Ethnic–racial differences in psychological stress related to gay lifestyle among HIV-positive men. Psychological Reports, 79, 303–312.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, M., and Marxuach-Rodriquez, L. (1996). Applying anthropology to the prevention of AIDS: The latino gay men's health project. Human Organization, 55, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres, J. B., Solberg, V. S. H., and Carlstrom, A. H. (2002). The myth of sameness among Latino men and their machismo. Armerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72, 163–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was based on research conducted by the Virginia Commonwealth University, Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory for the Virginia HIV Community Planning Committee (HIVCPG), advisory committee to the Virginia Department of Health. Funds for this research were provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of HIV/STD, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement U62-CCU-302020-15. We are grateful to the participants and acknowledge the support and assistance provided by the members of the Virginia HIVCPG and the staff of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of HIV/STD in the planning and implementation of this project. We also acknowledge the efforts of Ignacio Aguirre, Oscar Gavaldón, Hugo Salinas, and Santos Velazquez, the study's data collection coordinators

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. George Washington University, Washington, USA

    S. Lisbeth Jarama & Paul J. Poppen

  2. Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington, USA

    J. David Kennamer & Judith Bradford

  3. Washington Psychological Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Michael Hendricks

  4. Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA

    Paul J. Poppen

Authors
  1. S. Lisbeth Jarama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. David Kennamer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul J. Poppen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Hendricks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Judith Bradford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul J. Poppen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jarama, S.L., Kennamer, J.D., Poppen, P.J. et al. Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Cultural Predictors of Sexual Risk for HIV Infection Among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav 9, 513–523 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9022-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9022-1

KEY WORDS:

Search

Navigation