ETHNIC-RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS-RELATED TO GAY LIFE-STYLE AMONG HIV-POSITIVE MEN

To examine whether there were any ethnic-racial differences among 144 HIV-infected gay men (47 Caucasian, 48 African-American, and 49 Puerto Rican) on psychological stressors related to the gay lifestyle, respo nses to the Gay Lifestyle Hassles scale were analyzed. The African-Ame rican and Puerto Rican men reported significantly higher scores on fre quency of Gay Lifestyle Hassles and cumulated severity of Gay Lifestyl e Hassles over-all than Caucasian men. The results suggest that HIV-in fected ethnic-minority gay men were more prone to psychological stress related to the gay lifestyle than HN-infected Caucasian gay men, whic h may have negative consequences for their mental and physical health.