Social Support Seeking on Social Media among Chinese Homosexual Men Living With HIV/AIDS: The Role of Perceived Threat

• In Event: EXTENDED SESSION: Reception of LGBTQ Representations, Social Media Use, Sexual Health

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the influence of perceived threat on online social support seeking among Chinese homosexual men living with HIV/AIDS (HMLHA). Specifically, snowball sampling was used to recruit 133 Weibo users who are HMLHA. Then, a two by two between-subject multivariate analysis of variance was performed. Results reveled that perceived severity of HIV infection and perceived severity of stigma had main effects on different kinds on social support seeking. Moreover, HMLHA who expressed both perceived severity of HIV infection and perceived severity of stigma posted a greater number of emotional support seeking messages.

Authors

• Liang Chen, Sun Yat-sen University

• Yu Guo, Macau U of Science & Technology

• Jingyuan Jolie Shi, HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

• Minyi Chen, Sun Yat-sen U

• Fengming Zhang, Sun Yat-sen U