Examining the Influence of Pre-HAART Experiences on Older, Self-Identifying Gay Men's Contemporary Constructions of Quality of Life (QOL)

Some older gay men (50+) experience diminished quality of life (QOL) due to historical and ongoing discrimination in addition to living through a collective trauma-the pre-HAART era of the HIV/AIDS epidemic-characterized by the absence of treatment and rampant discrimination targeting gay men. A gro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of homosexuality 2024-07, Vol.71 (8), p.1880-1899
Main Authors: Handlovsky, Ingrid, Amato, Anthony T., Ferlatte, Olivier, Kia, Hannah, Gagnon, Marilou, Worthington, Catherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Aged
aging
AIDS
Antiretroviral therapy
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
Canada
Concept formation
Discrimination
Epidemics
gay/lesbian
Gays & lesbians
Grounded Theory
Happiness
HIV
HIV Infections
HIV/AIDS
Homosexuality
Homosexuality, Male - psychology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Male
Men
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
quality of life (QOL)
Resilience
Self Concept
Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology
sexuality
Trauma
Well being
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Summary:Some older gay men (50+) experience diminished quality of life (QOL) due to historical and ongoing discrimination in addition to living through a collective trauma-the pre-HAART era of the HIV/AIDS epidemic-characterized by the absence of treatment and rampant discrimination targeting gay men. A growing body of literature, however, illustrates that older gay men demonstrate remarkable resilience but little is known about how QOL is conceptualized and how these conceptualizations are potentially shaped by pre-HAART experiences. The current study drew on constructivist grounded theory methods to examine how QOL is conceptualized in light of the sociohistorical relevance of pre-HAART. Twenty Canadian based gay men aged 50+ participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Ultimately, QOL is understood as experiencing contentment, which is made possible by the development and implementation of three key processes: (1) developing and cultivating meaningful connections, (2) growing into and embracing identity, and (3) appreciating the capacity to do what brings joy. QOL for this group is greatly informed by a context of disadvantage, and the demonstrated resilience warrants further investigation to meaningfully support the overall well-being of older gay men.
ISSN:0091-8369
1540-3602
DOI:10.1080/00918369.2023.2212100