‘It’s a dark cloud’: experiences of social undermining among people living with HIV in New Mexico

Authors

Tamar Ginossar, Prevention Research Center, Department of Communication & Journalism, University of New Mexico Cancer Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
John Oetzel, The Department of Management Communication, Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-21-2019

Abstract

Social undermining as a strong predictor of adverse health outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH), yet little is known about the experiences that constitute social undermining in this population. We led community-engaged research to identify and understand experiences of social undermining of PLWH in largely rural, minority-majority Southwestern communities. While past research focused on stigma-related experiences, participants in this study also told stories that shared their feelings of being undermined by lack of patient-centered care that they did not attribute to stigma, but to bureaucratic and impersonal service provision that marginalized them. These experiences create stress and serve as barriers for participants’ well-being and care. By bringing to the front experiences and mechanisms of social undermining, these findings advance theory, research, and practice regarding social undermining and living with HIV in diverse communities.

Recommended Citation

Tamar Ginossar & John Oetzel (2019) ‘It’s a dark cloud’: experiences of social undermining among people living with HIV in New Mexico, Journal of Applied Communication Research, 47:2, 175-196, DOI: 10.1080/00909882.2019.1583358