Exploring the experience of MSM with HIV using dating apps
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a Model of HIV Disclosure Processes for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) living with HIV who use Dating Apps
IRAS ID
260026
Contact name
Felicity Gibbons
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV can experience stigma and rejection when disclosing their diagnosis to sexual partners, often negatively impacting mental health. Dating/’hook-up’ apps (DAs) are commonly used by MSM, providing a platform for new disclosure opportunities. A better understanding of disclosure on DAs may help guide psychological interventions for relationship difficulties, stigma concerns and wellbeing.
This project, therefore, aims to investigate the processes involved in MSM sharing HIV status on DAs. It will investigate reasons for choosing to disclose (or not disclose), reactions experienced from others and perceived positive and/or negative outcomes.
The project is novel as it will focus in detail on disclosure on DAs, an area not previously explored in depth by research studies. It will also explore whether recent findings confirming that individuals who have undetectable levels of HIV after treatment cannot transmit HIV (Rodger et al., 2018), is associated with decisions about sharing HIV status or not.
Interviews will be conducted with approximately ten MSM living with HIV, recruited from HIV clinics. Interviews will last approximately 1 hour and ask 6-10 questions. Participants will also be asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, as well as the 'Illness Cognition Questionnaire' (Evers & Kraairnaat, 1998).
A Grounded Theory (GT) approach will be used to analyse interview data, to create a new model explaining processes involved in MSM disclosing HIV on DAs.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0634
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion