Title:HIV Stigma, Sexual Identity Stigma and Online Coping Strategy of Gay,
Bisexual and Queer People Living with HIV: A Moderated Mediation
Study
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Author(s): Muhammad Ashraff Ahmad*, Azmawaty Mohamad Nor and Harris Shah Abd Hamid
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keywords:
Gay, bisexual, queer, HIV, HIV stigma, sexual identity stigma, coping strategy, online coping.
Abstract:
Introduction: Living with HIV/AIDS is more difficult for gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ)
people as they face stigma on both the disease and sexuality, which puts significant stress on
coping with stressors, and online platforms have become an alternative coping channel.
Methods: This study investigated the use of online coping strategies in moderating the HIV stigma
mediated by sexual identity stigma on mental health in Malaysia. 123 GBQ people living with
HIV between the ages of 20 and 39 participated in the study, responding to the HIV Stigma –
Short Form Scale, adapted China MSM Stigma Scale, Online Coping Inventory, and DASS-21.
Result: Results were analyzed using OLS, and logistic regression path modeling showed a statistically
significant indirect effect of sexual identity stigma mediating HIV stigma on depressive (ab
= 0.1362), anxiety (ab = 0.1259), and stress (ab = 0.1636) levels. Problem-focused online coping
strategy was found to moderate the indirect association between HIV stigma and depression levels
via sexual identity stigma at low (β = 0.2110, SE = 0.0741, p<.05) and moderate levels (β =
0.1168, SE = 0.0465, p<.05). The findings demonstrated the compounding link between HIV and
sexual identity stigmas on mental health and how online coping strategies can be used as a helpful
coping resource to manage depressive symptoms for this community and mental health practitioners.
Conclusion: These findings can be beneficial to generate a better understanding of how double
stigmas play a role in mental health and the types of online coping strategies adopted to process
the stressors for GBQ individuals living with HIV in Malaysia.