Date of Completion

Spring 5-26-2026

Thesis Advisor(s)

Pablo K. Valente

Honors Major

Allied Health Sciences

Disciplines

Epidemiology | Health Psychology | Inequality and Stratification | Medicine and Health Sciences | Population Health | Public Health

Abstract

Stigma is a known barrier to accessing preventative services for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), however, the types of stigmas involved in this relationship remain not well defined. Homophobia, or negative attitudes directed towards homosexuality, is a particularly important type of stigma considering the disproportionate effect of HIV on men who have sex with men (MSM). Young MSM (YMSM) are especially impacted, making them a key population in the context of HIV prevention research.  Internalized homophobia, which refers to homophobia that one directs towards themselves, is under researched regarding its role in participating in HIV prevention. In this study, we aimed to understand the relationship between internalized homophobia and participation in HIV prevention using data on a diverse cohort of YMSM from the RADAR study. Bivariate analysis using this data yielded results that were not statistically significant. Multivariable analysis adjusting for race and ethnicity, however, revealed that increased internalized homophobia was significantly associated with lower odds of having participated in HIV prevention. Our findings contribute to the growing literature regarding the role of internalized homophobia in HIV prevention and introduce important implications for future research and interventions related to HIV prevention.

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