Social networks and stigma: The experiences of African immigrants living with HIV in the United States

IF 1.8 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SSM. Qualitative research in health Pub Date : 2024-10-11 DOI:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100493
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Abstract

Over the past two decades, research on the conceptualization, measurement, and refinement of stigma has grown extensively due to increasing recognition of stigma as a driver of adverse health outcomes. While these lines of research have generally recognized that stigma is enacted in social relationships, few analysts have characterized how the structure and composition of these relationships influence stigma, particularly among immigrant populations. In response, this paper integrates data from social network analysis and in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of and responses to stigma by African immigrants living with HIV in the United States.
All participants reported that they anticipated, experienced, and internalized stigma within their personal networks. Many concealed their status and disclosed to only trusted associates, family members, and medical providers. Building on findings from previous studies, we found that the meanings and belief systems (particularly African cultural discourses that link HIV with mortality, immorality, retribution, and silence) matter for how stigma is assigned, enacted, experienced, and resisted. Our analyses also revealed that the structure of participants personal networks (i.e, the extent to which their associates were connected to each other, and how integrated/involved they were in these network relationships) intensified or diluted their exposure to stigmatizing discourses, depending on the composition (resourcefulness/quality) of their personal networks. Such network connections (i.e., social capital) translate into rewards if they are supportive and accepting, and costs if they stigmatize.
By showing how individuals can use their social networks to stigmatize or support their peers, this study advances theoretical expositions on (1) how the meanings and belief systems held by individuals matter for understanding social network/structural processes, (2) how social networks shape how stigma is assigned, enacted, experienced and resisted,(3) the costs and downsides of social capital, which are often neglected through emphasis on its salutary impacts. Our findings underscore the need for interventions that leverage the salient properties of personal networks to understand, conceptualize, measure, and reduce stigma.
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社会网络与污名化:美国感染艾滋病毒的非洲移民的经历
过去二十年来,由于越来越多的人认识到成见是不良健康后果的驱动因素,有关成见的概念化、测量和完善的研究得到了广泛的发展。虽然这些研究普遍认识到成见是在社会关系中产生的,但很少有分析师描述这些关系的结构和组成如何影响成见,尤其是在移民群体中。为此,本文整合了社会网络分析和深度访谈的数据,探讨了在美国感染艾滋病毒的非洲移民的污名化经历和应对措施。许多人隐瞒了自己的身份,只向信任的伙伴、家庭成员和医疗服务提供者透露。在以往研究结果的基础上,我们发现,意义和信仰体系(尤其是将艾滋病毒与死亡、不道德、报应和沉默联系在一起的非洲文化论述)对于如何分配、实施、体验和抵制污名化非常重要。我们的分析还显示,参与者个人网络的结构(即他们的伙伴之间相互联系的程度,以及他们在这些网络关系中的融入/参与程度)会根据他们个人网络的构成(资源丰富程度/质量),加强或削弱他们对污名化话语的接触。这种网络联系(即本研究通过展示个人如何利用其社交网络来鄙视或支持其同伴,推进了以下方面的理论阐述:(1)个人所持有的意义和信仰体系如何影响对社交网络/结构过程的理解;(2)社交网络如何塑造成见的分配、实施、体验和抵制方式;(3)社交资本的成本和弊端,这些往往因强调其有益影响而被忽视。我们的研究结果强调,有必要采取干预措施,利用个人网络的显著特性来理解、概念化、衡量和减少成见。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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CiteScore
1.60
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0.00%
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审稿时长
163 days
期刊最新文献
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