Perceived Life-Meaning and Correlates of Behavior within an HIV Context: The Gay Men's Experience

The researcher aimed to investigate the construct of perceived life meaning and search for meaning along with constructs described in the cognitive escape model for avoidance of anxiety producing stimuli, in an effort to investigate correlations between perceived life meaning and adoption of certain risk behaviors as well as a potential relationship between perceived meaning and HIV status. Specifically, perceived meaning and search for meaning in life were investigated in correlation with risky sexual activity (e.g., unprotected anal intercourse/oral sex) and substance use in gay men of differing HIV statuses (HIV positive, HIV negative, unknown status). No significant correlation was identified between presence of perceived meaning and any particular HIV status group. A negative correlation was identified between search for meaning and number of sexual partners within the HIV positive group despite a higher number of reported sexual partners within the HIV positive group compared to HIV negative and unknown status groups. These findings, although not conclusive, imply that search for meaning may be a protective factor in making decisions that affect risk behavior for HIV positive gay men.