Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Οργάνωση & Διαχείριση ανακουφιστικής & υποστηρικτικής φροντίδας χρονίως πασχόντωνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Κουλουλίας Βασίλης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Μυστακίδου Κυριακή, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαγεωργίου Χαράλαμπος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Στενές διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις και οροθετικοί ομοφυλόφιλοι άνδρες
Translated title:
Close relationships and seropositive gay men
Summary:
Abstract
Introduction: The diagnosis of a chronic disease is a biographical reversal in human life history and at the same time divides life into pre - and post - diagnosis. This situation requires recognition of the forms of support and the particular needs of the people experiencing it. Thanks to the success of anti-retroviral therapy (cART), HIV infection has evolved into a chronic disease. However, attempting to find support for seropositive homosexual men presupposes the discovery of the disease and the consequence of sexual preferences, so a dual self-discovery is required. The present study is geared to investigating the way in which seropositive homosexual men understand their fellow-loving relationships and the way they can impart to the individual a mental resilience.
Method: The sample consisted of 7 gay men and came from two non-governmental organizations: Positive Voice and Life Center. The data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded. The analysis and interpretation of the results was done through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, which allows to explore the way in which people attach meaning to phenomena that matter to them.
Results: The analysis resulted in 7 hyper-thematic by the method of triangulation.
Discussion: The news of the diagnosis of seropositivity in some people acted as a shock, while others were relieved. Seropositive representations were sometimes tough and demanding. In serodiscordant relationships there were difficulties and obstacles due to HIV. In seroconcordant relationships the feeling of security, equality, ease and everyday life were dominant.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
HIV, Homosexual men, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Close interpersonal relationships
