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Psychological Connection to the Gay Community and Negative Self-Appraisals in Middle-Aged and Older Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Mediating Effects of Fitness Engagement

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Brennan-Ing
  • Sabina Haberlen
  • Deanna Ware
  • James E Egan
  • Andre L Brown
  • Steven Meanley
  • Frank J Palella
  • Robert Bolan
  • Judith A Cook
  • Chukwuemeka N Okafor
  • M Reuel Friedman
  • Michael W Plankey

Abstract

ObjectivesConnections to the gay community may elicit negative self-appraisals among men who have sex with men (MSM), which may be exacerbated for people with HIV (PWH). Fitness engagement may mediate self-appraisals by maintaining or improving appearance and health. We hypothesized that gay community connections would be positively related to negative self-appraisal and explored whether this association would be mediated by fitness engagement and moderated by HIV status.MethodData were obtained from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Healthy Aging study (N = 1,026; PWH n = 525; people without HIV [PWOH] n = 501). Structural equation modeling (SEM) examined associations between gay community connections, negative self-appraisal (body image dissatisfaction, self-perception of aging), and fitness engagement (physical activity, motivation to be fit). Multiple-group SEM tested the moderating effects of HIV serostatus.ResultsThe SEM fit the data well (root mean square error of approximation = 0.056; 90% CI: 0.046, 0.066). Connection to the gay community was inversely related to negative self-appraisals and positively related to fitness engagement. Fitness engagement mediated the association between community connections and negative self-appraisal and was inversely related to negative self-appraisals. Among PWH, the association between community connections and self-appraisal was weaker and the effect of fitness engagement on negative self-appraisal was stronger compared to PWOH.DiscussionConnection to the gay community may be a source of resilience for aging MSM by lessening negative self-appraisals and promoting strategies that address body image dissatisfaction and self-perceptions of aging. Interventions facilitating connections to the gay community may support healthy aging in this population.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Brennan-Ing & Sabina Haberlen & Deanna Ware & James E Egan & Andre L Brown & Steven Meanley & Frank J Palella & Robert Bolan & Judith A Cook & Chukwuemeka N Okafor & M Reuel Friedman & Michael W , 2022. "Psychological Connection to the Gay Community and Negative Self-Appraisals in Middle-Aged and Older Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Mediating Effects of Fitness Engagement," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(1), pages 39-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:77:y:2022:i:1:p:39-49.
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