How social and economic stigma affects HIV and mental health in men
Characterizing the role of social, behavioral, and economic stigmas as determinants of HIV and mental health across the US
This project looks at how different kinds of stigma influence HIV risk and mental health among men at higher risk in the United States.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400278 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll be asked to complete online surveys about experiences of stigma, mental health, sexual behavior, and social and economic factors through the American Men’s Internet Survey. Each year researchers will enroll about 5,000 high-risk men in cross-sectional surveys and invite a subset (about 500 per survey) to provide self-collected biospecimens by mail. The team will measure enacted, perceived, and anticipated stigmas tied to things like income, occupation, demographics, and health behaviors and link those measures to HIV, STI, and mental health indicators. Findings will be used to pinpoint the pathways where stigma creates barriers so future programs can reduce risk and improve care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men in the U.S. who are at higher risk for HIV—willing to complete online surveys and, if selected, to collect and mail biospecimens—are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not men, not living in the United States, or not at increased risk for HIV are unlikely to see direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal clear targets for reducing stigma and improving HIV prevention and mental health services for men at high risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked stigma to worse HIV and mental health outcomes, but measurement and causal pathways remain limited, so this work builds on existing evidence with larger repeated surveys and biospecimen testing.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baral, Stefan David — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Baral, Stefan David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.