Adaptive coping, emotions, and antiretroviral therapy adherence among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) with HIV

This study evaluated the hypothesis that positive emotions attenuate associations between negative emotions with adaptive coping and adherence, as well as explored evidence of the hypothesis of an indirect effect association between adaptive coping and adherence via positive emotions. The sample was 202 gbMSM with HIV who use substances (mean age [standard deviation] = 47.15 [12.26]; 34% Black, 14% Hispanic, and ≥50% with annual income ≤$20,000). Positive emotions were a moderator: negative emotions were not associated with approach coping at low positive emotions but were associated with more adaptive coping at high positive emotions (<i>b</i> = 0.32, <i>p</i> = 0.01). There was also an indirect effect association between adaptive coping with better adherence via high positive emotions (indirect effect: 0.29, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.004-0.39). Findings support the likely benefit of experiencing positive emotions, and investment in intensive longitudinal studies on how emotions, coping, and health behaviors are related to inform behavioral intervention development.