Communicating Social Support for HIV-Infected Thai Men who have Sex with Men: Emotional Support in the Thai Cultural Context

Abstract

             The main objective of this study was to help researchers and Thai society understand better what sorts of emotional support promote health and safety among HIV+ Thai men who have sex with men (MSM). Forty-six key informants (gay patients and healthcare staff infected with HIV and straight healthcare staff without HIV infection) were selected for the study. All of them were over 18 years of age and living in Bangkok and its vicinity. Using interpretive analysis of observations of support group meetings and in-depth interviews, the study observed three distinctive themes that characterized the emotional support among the key informants: (a) Emotional support as sharing in Thai culture, (b) identification and normalization of connection, and (c) avoiding emotionally upsetting talk. The themes appear to reflect both Buddhist and collectivist characteristics of Thai culture. A clear understanding of these cultural nuances will also benefit those who would provide emotional assistance themselves or teach others to speak in emotionally healing ways (e.g., care providers, especially those from other cultures).