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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 2/2016

01-02-2016 | Substantive Review

Religion and Spirituality’s Influences on HIV Syndemics Among MSM: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Model

Authors: Jonathan M. Lassiter, Jeffrey T. Parsons

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of the quantitative HIV research that assessed the relationships between religion, spirituality, HIV syndemics, and individual HIV syndemics-related health conditions (e.g. depression, substance abuse, HIV risk) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. No quantitative studies were found that assessed the relationships between HIV syndemics, religion, and spirituality. Nine studies, with 13 statistical analyses, were found that examined the relationships between individual HIV syndemics-related health conditions, religion, and spirituality. Among the 13 analyses, religion and spirituality were found to have mixed relationships with HIV syndemics-related health conditions (6 nonsignificant associations; 5 negative associations; 2 positive associations). Given the overall lack of inclusion of religion and spirituality in HIV syndemics research, a conceptual model that hypothesizes the potential interactions of religion and spirituality with HIV syndemics-related health conditions is presented. The implications of the model for MSM’s health are outlined.
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Metadata
Title
Religion and Spirituality’s Influences on HIV Syndemics Among MSM: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Model
Authors
Jonathan M. Lassiter
Jeffrey T. Parsons
Publication date
01-02-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1173-0

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