Adapting an Evidence-based Intervention for Stigma-related Stress, Mental Health, and HIV Risk for MSM of Color in Small Urban Areas

Adapting an Evidence-based Intervention for Stigma-related Stress, Mental Health, and HIV Risk for MSM of Color in Small Urban Areas (ESTEEM-conneCT)

The purpose of this study is adapt an evidence-based intervention for stigma-related stress, mental health, and HIV risk for bay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) of color in small urban areas.

This study has two specific aims. Aim 1 will focus on the modification of an existing intervention manual (created by the study PI) using feedback from previous qualitative interviews with MSM in New Haven and Hartford, CT. Also incorporated will be recent qualitative research on MSM of color's resilience. Specifically, the ways in which racial minority stigma impacts the mental health of MSM in small urban areas and adaptive coping skills that MSM can use in the face of these health threats.

Aim 2, will consist of the deliver of the adapted intervention to approximately 30 young MSM (15 HIV-negative and 15 HIV-positive) to gather data on the feasibility and acceptability of the newly adapted program. The evaluation of the new program will be conducted using pre-post comparisons of quantitative assessments and from qualitative interviews hoped to provide information regarding intervention feasibility, acceptability, and any needed refinement.

This project integrates expertise in culturally-sensitive evidence-based interventions for MSM's HIV risk into a community-based HIV prevention and care context at the Fair Haven Community Health Center, where the intervention will be delivered to the existing patient population.

As of April, 2019, the study protocol was updated and approved by the Yale IRB such that the two intervention cohorts did not differ by HIV serostatus. This decision was made: (1) because of the greater number of HIV-negative men, compared to HIV-positive men, who expressed interest in the study and (2) because participants could decide whether or not to disclose their serostatus in the group, as they do in other real-life interactions with other MSM, as reviewed during the consent process. Thus, there was no group assignment based on HIV serostatus.

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must:

• Report anticipated 6-month residential stability in New Haven county
• Self-identify as a gay or bisexual man or report being a man who has had past-12-month sex with a man
• Self-identify as an ethnic or racial minority, including Black, African American, Caribbean American, Hispanic, and Latinx
• Speak fluent English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants not meeting the inclusion criteria will not be eligible to participate.