G W Harper
Biographic Data
| ID | 49279 |
|---|---|
| NAME | G W Harper |
| GIVEN NAMES | G W |
| FAMILY NAME | Harper |
| SIGNATURE | HARPER G W |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Michigan |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1011-1751 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 102 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 266 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 102 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 9 |
The student opportunities for Aids/HIV research program
Introduction: Undergraduate public health degrees have grown over 1,100% over the past 20 years, not including interdisciplinary scholars who are interested and do not major in the field, marking an opportunity for proactive public health leadership in this burgeoning group of people with potential futures as public health leaders. The Students Opportunities for AIDS/HIV Research Program (SOAR) is a 2-year program funded by the National Institute…
Factors that influence communication between healthcare providers and sexual minority men in HIV service delivery in Zambia
Studies that have investigated client-provider interactions in HIV service delivery have focused mainly on the views of sexual and gender minorities. This study explored the views of both Healthcare Providers (HCPs) and Sexual Minority Men (SMM) in Zambia about factors that influence client-provider interactions and how this could affect HIV service delivery. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 HCPs (>25 years old) and 20 SMM (20-34 years ol…
It kills the freedom or the spirit of people being who they are’
Gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Kenya are subjected to frequent experiences of sexuality-based stigma and discrimination, yet how GBM navigate these experiences and their impact on mental health has remained understudied. The aim of this study was to understand how GBM in Kenya respond to everyday experiences of sexuality-based stressors. We conducted 60 individual in-depth interviews with GBM between the ages of 20-46 residing in Kisumu and Nairob…
Predictors of Past-Year Formal and Informal Mental Health Services Utilization Among Young Black Sexually Minoritized Men Living with HIV in Atlanta, GA
Acceptability, Feasibility, and Safety of the Shauriana Intervention for Young Kenyan Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who Have Sex with Men, and Exploration of Potential Impact on Sexual Health Outcomes
In rights-constrained settings with pervasive stigma, a holistic approach to HIV prevention is needed to ensure knowledge and use of different HIV prevention tools and promote both sexual and mental health. In close collaboration with GBMSM community leaders in Kisumu, we developed a theory-based, culturally-tailored HIV prevention intervention that integrates sexual health and mental health support for young Kenyan GBMSM. We conducted a randomiz…
A consequence of tradition
US Right-Wing, Pro-Family Movements in East Africa
Neocolonial US right-wing actors have targeted sexual and reproductive health and rights and sexual and gender minority rights in Kenya, influencing support for the Family Protection Bill, which is currently sitting in the Kenyan parliament and, if enacted, would further criminalize sexual and gender minority persons. We focus on how sexual and gender minority persons assigned female sex at birth in Kenya are at the intersection of these assaults…
The Impact of Anti-LGBTQ + Legislation on Mental Health and Substance Use and HIV Prevention and Care Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Kenya
The Impact of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation on Mental Health and Substance Use and HIV Prevention and Care Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Kenya, an article from American Journal of Public Health, Vol 115 Issue 8
LGBTQ+ Cultural Sensitivity Training for Mental Health Professionals in the USA
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) cultural sensitivity in mental health care delivery within the USA is needed and can significantly impact the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals (Mayer et al., 2008 ; Sekoni et al., 2017 ). Research shows that the LGBTQ+ community faces significant mental health disparities, such as increased risk for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and substance use disorders compared t…
Stigmatizing clinical setting erodes physician-patient interaction quality for sexual minority men through perceived HIV stigma and HIV infection concerns in Zambia
This study investigated whether perceived HIV stigma and HIV infection concerns among healthcare providers (HCPs) mediate the association between stigmatizing clinical setting and their interaction quality with sexual minority men (SMM) patients in Zambia. In 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 91 HCPs offering HIV-related services to SMM in Zambia. Path analysis was conducted to examine the potential mediation effect of “perceived …
Empowerment for Us by Us (E4UBU)”
Lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans and other gender diverse persons assigned female at birth (heretofore referred to as "LBQT+ persons") in Western Kenya experience intersectional oppression and stigma. This stigma can manifest in acts of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual and gender minority (SGM)-based violence, as well as various forms of discrimination-all of which have been linked to disproportionately higher levels of negative …
Proximal and distal minority stressors and mental health among young gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Kisumu, Kenya
Young gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Kenya experience pervasive intersectional stigma and discrimination, contributing to elevated levels of negative mental health symptoms. Grounded in the Minority Stress Model, this paper explores associations of proximal and distal minority stressors with three types of negative mental health outcomes among young HIV‐negative GBMSM ( n = 63) between the ages of 19–34 who pa…
The Impacts of Stigma Against Sexual Minority Men Within and Between Various Socioecological Levels
Sexual minority men (SMM) face persistent stigma in Zambia. From a holistic perspective, we aim to explore its impacts within and between multiple socioecological levels, demonstrating how their interactions create a vicious cycle of barriers to the well-being of SMM. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 purposively recruited SMM from Lusaka, Zambia. All interviews were audio-recorded, after written consent, transcribed verbatim, and iterat…
Pilot Trial of a Critical Consciousness-Based Intervention for Black Young Gay and Bisexual Men Living with HIV
They’re not feeling the love they need to feel”
Interventions to ameliorate intersectional stigma and its effects are needed to improve primary and secondary HIV prevention in the HBC
You’ll Be Chased Away”
Gay and bisexual men in Kenya face extreme socio-political stigma which manifests in widespread violence and discrimination across socio-ecological levels. We conducted individual in-depth interviews with 60 gay and bisexual men in western and central Kenya. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed using an inductive, phenomenological approach to qualitatively examine experiences of stigma and violence at the interpersonal and institution…
Physician–Patient Interaction Quality Mediates the Association Between HIV-Related Stigma and HIV-Prevention Behaviors Among Sexual Minority Men in Zambia
“When you talk it out … you will feel like the burden has somehow gone down, you will feel light”
Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience many sexual orientation-related stressors that negatively influence physical and mental health, making it imperative to understand their experiences of resilience-promoting resources such as social support. We utilized qualitative and participatory methodologies to examine sources of social support and types of social support received by GBMSM in Western Kenya through in-…
Challenges with PrEP Uptake and Adherence Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Kisumu, Kenya
Data on challenges with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence among Kenyan gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are limited. In this mixed-methods sequential explanatory design study, our quantitative phase followed 157 at-risk, HIV-negative GBMSM who accepted PrEP and enrolled in a cohort with 12-month follow-up. Stored dried blood spots collected at two intervals were batch tested for tenofovir diphosphate (…
Using the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (Epis) Framework to prepare for the implementation of evidence-based practices into adolescent HIV settings
Understanding social capital among young black gay and bisexual men living with HIV
Social capital, defined as the sum of an individual's resource-containing, reciprocal and trustworthy social network connections, has been associated with improved engagement in care among people living with HIV globally. We conducted a qualitative interview study of social capital among 28 young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men ages 18-29 living with HIV in Atlanta, Georgia. We asked participants about bonding capital (rel…
Media representation, perception and stigmatisation of race, sexuality and HIV among young black gay and bisexual men
Young Black gay and bisexual men who have sex with men experience stigma related to race, gender expression, sexuality and HIV status. Stigma impacts access to HIV care and prevention as well as interactions with healthcare providers. The amplification of stigma through popular media is under-researched in the health sciences. HealthMpowerment is a mobile phone optimised intervention to reduce sexual risk and support community-building for young …
“…Everybody Else Is More Privileged. Then It’s Us…”
Mental Health Challenges and Needs among Sexual and Gender Minority People in Western Kenya
Background : Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in Kenya face pervasive socio-cultural and structural discrimination. Persistent stress stemming from anti-SGM stigma and prejudice may place SGM individuals at increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. This study explored experiences with violence (intimate partner violence and SGM-based violence), mental health outcomes (psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depressive symptoms…
Relationship, partner factors and stigma are associated with safer conception information, motivation, and behavioral skills among women living with HIV in Botswana
Knowledge of SC methods varied widely. While some SC methods were well known (medical male circumcision by 83%, antiretroviral therapy for viral suppression by 64%), most other methods were known by less than 40% of participants. Our final models reveal that stigma as well as relationship and partner factors affect SC information, motivation, and behavioral skills. Both internalized childbearing stigma (ß=-0.50, 95%CI:-0.17, -0.02) and perceived …
Oppression and Discrimination among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People and Communities
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people continue to experience various forms of oppression and discrimination in North America and throughout the world, despite the social, legal, and political advances that have been launched in an attempt to grant LGBT people basic human rights. Even though LGBT people and communities have been actively engaged in community organizing and social action efforts since the early twentieth century, …
Sexual and ethnic identity development among gay–bisexual–questioning (GBQ) male ethnic minority adolescents
Identity development is a critical task of adolescence and occurs across multiple areas of self-identification. Although research on the identity development process among individuals who are ethnic and sexual minorities has been conducted for individuals who have 1 minority status or the other, few studies have examined these processes in people who are both ethnic and sexual minorities. In this qualitative study, the authors examined the dual i…
The role of close friends in African American adolescents' dating and sexual behavior
This study examined the role of close friends in the sexual lives of African American adolescents. Fifteen African American adolescents residing in an urban neighborhood participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The findings suggest that close friends play a critical role in the dating and sexual behaviors of inner-city African American adolescents, as they appear to serve as socializing agents that impact how adolescents concep…
The Role of Sexually Explicit Material in the Sexual Development of Same-Sex-Attracted Black Adolescent Males
What's Good About Being Gay? Perspectives from Youth
This article explores gay and bisexual male adolescents' positive perceptions of their sexual orientation identity. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents in Chicago (N=42) and Miami (N=21). Data revealed two major conceptual categories: 1) positive personal conceptualizations of being gay/bisexual, and 2) resiliency in the face of gay-related oppression. Additional pri…
Laying the Foundation for Connect to Protect ®
Minority stress, positive identity development, and depressive symptoms
With these results, we offer an exploratory model that empirically identifies significant paths among minority stress dimensions, positive identity development, and major depressive symptoms. This study helps further our understanding of minority stress, identity development, and resources of resilience among sexual minority male youth
Negotiating Dominant Masculinity Ideology
In the context of a U.S. dominant masculinity ideology, which devalues men who are not heterosexually identified, many gay, bisexual and questioning (GBQ) adolescent males must develop their own affirming and health‐promoting sense of masculinity. In order to promote the well‐being of GBQ young men, exploration of their reactions and responses to dominant images of masculinity is needed. We qualitatively analyzed interviews with 39 GBQ African Am…
Racialized Sexual Discrimination ( RSD ) in the Age of Online Sexual Networking
Young Black gay/bisexual men ( YBGBM ) are a highly marginalized population across multiple health outcomes. Most research on YBGBM health has focused on HIV /sexual health, but there is a demonstrable need for research examining racism and psychosocial functioning among this population. Racialized Sexual Discrimination ( RSD ), also known as sexual racism, is an important but under‐investigated phenomenon that may have implications for the psych…
Examining natural mentoring relationships (NMRs) among self-identified gay, bisexual, and questioning (GBQ) male youth
Who Counts as Family? Family Typologies, Family Support, and Family Undermining Among Young Adult Gay and Bisexual Men
Romantic Relationship Dynamics of Urban African American Adolescents
Relationship dynamics develop early in life and are influenced by social environments. STI/HIV prevention programs need to consider romantic relationship dynamics that contribute to sexual health. The aim of this study was to examine monogamous patterns, commitment, and trust in African American adolescent romantic relationships. The authors also focused on the differences in these dynamics between and within gender. The way that such dynamics in…
Diverse Phases of Collaboration
Although alliances between community‐based organizations (CBOs) and university‐based evaluators provide opportunities to enhance community‐based interventions, such partnerships may be fraught with challenges and obstacles. This paper focuses on the “story” behind a collaborative partnership between a Latino‐focused CBO and a team of university‐based evaluators that was formed to evaluate HIV prevention interventions for Mexican American female a…
Age-Concordant and Age-Discordant Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents
Pathways to Risk Among Inner‐City African‐American Adolescent Females
Differential rates of participation in three categories of risk behaviors (i.e., sexual activity, substance use, violence) were explored, comparing gang members to nonmembers, within a sample of 1,143 inner‐city African American adolescent females. The relationship between gang membership and risk behavior also was examined, by exploring the association between a variety of microsystemic influences (e.g., gang, family, school) and participation i…
When Street Sex Workers Are Mothers
Creating Youth-Supportive Communities
Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) in Online Sexual Networking
Young Black gay/bisexual men (YBGBM) are at disproportionate risk for poor health outcomes due to multilevel stressors, such as community- and individual-level discrimination. Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) is an under-examined type of discrimination experienced by gay/bisexual men of color when seeking partners online. RSD may be a driving force behind sexual network restriction (which elevates YBGBM’s risk for HIV infection) and may hav…
There's Gotta Be Some Give and Take
Successful community partnerships for youth are based on the premise that reciprocity exists between all parties, but to what extent is equal power actually present? The current investigation examines the benefits and contributions associated with partnerships from community partners' perspectives. Respondents from 15 different Connect to Protect(R) coalitions initiated by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions were int…
Future Life Goals of HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Male Emerging Adults
This qualitative study explores the future life goals reported by a sample of HIV-positive gay/bisexual male emerging adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants ages 17-24 at four geographically and demographically diverse adolescent HIV medicine programs to explore the content of participants’ goals, perceived obstacles and sources of resilience. We provide descriptive data on goals articulated by participants to begi…
Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) and Psychological Wellbeing among Young Sexual Minority Black Men (YSMBM) Who Seek Intimate Partners Online
Introduction Online dating is widespread among young adults, and particularly young sexual minority men. Racialized sexual discrimination (RSD), also known as “sexual racism,” is frequently reported to occur within these digital spaces and may negatively impact the psychological wellbeing of young sexual minority Black men (YSMBM). However, the association between RSD and psychological wellbeing is not well understood. Methods Using data (collect…
Toward a multidimensional construct of racialized sexual discrimination (RSD)
It’s a Kiki
Younger members of the House and Ball Community (HBC) have created an emerging social scene called "Kiki" that has shared elements with the HBC. Given the growing popularity of the Kiki scene in urban communities with large numbers of Black gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) adolescents and emerging adults, it is important to understand the developmental benefits of the Kiki scene. We conducted individual in-depth interviews with 30 GBT adolesc…
Sexual Partner Characteristics, Relationship Type, and HIV Risk Among a Community Venue-Based Sample of Urban Adolescent and Young Adult Men Who Have Sex With Men
Few studies have examined sexual partnerships and HIV risk in diverse samples of African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino adolescent and young adult men who have sex with men (YMSM), a group that have a high burden of HIV in the United States. A community-venue recruitment approach was used, which identified significant differences in HIV risk by sexual partner type among 1,215 YMSM. Those with casual partners had a higher number of sexual part…
Exploring the Sexual Development Experiences of Black Bisexual Male Adolescents Over Time
Pathways to Risk Among Inner‐City African‐American Adolescent Females
Differential rates of participation in three categories of risk behaviors (i.e., sexual activity, substance use, violence) were explored, comparing gang members to nonmembers, within a sample of 1,143 inner‐city African American adolescent females. The relationship between gang membership and risk behavior also was examined, by exploring the association between a variety of microsystemic influences (e.g., gang, family, school) and participation i…
Introduction
Oppression and Discrimination among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People and Communities
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people continue to experience various forms of oppression and discrimination in North America and throughout the world, despite the social, legal, and political advances that have been launched in an attempt to grant LGBT people basic human rights. Even though LGBT people and communities have been actively engaged in community organizing and social action efforts since the early twentieth century, …
Giving voice to emerging science and theory for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people of color may experience multiple layers of oppression, as they often not only contend with the negative societal reactions to their sexual orientation but also may experience racial prejudice, limited economic resources, and limited acceptance within their own cultural community. Despite the range of psychosocial issues that may be encountered by this population, and the need to understand factors that prom…
Diverse Phases of Collaboration
Although alliances between community‐based organizations (CBOs) and university‐based evaluators provide opportunities to enhance community‐based interventions, such partnerships may be fraught with challenges and obstacles. This paper focuses on the “story” behind a collaborative partnership between a Latino‐focused CBO and a team of university‐based evaluators that was formed to evaluate HIV prevention interventions for Mexican American female a…
The role of close friends in African American adolescents' dating and sexual behavior
This study examined the role of close friends in the sexual lives of African American adolescents. Fifteen African American adolescents residing in an urban neighborhood participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The findings suggest that close friends play a critical role in the dating and sexual behaviors of inner-city African American adolescents, as they appear to serve as socializing agents that impact how adolescents concep…
When Street Sex Workers Are Mothers
Overlooked, misunderstood and at-risk
Laying the Foundation for Connect to Protect ®
Collaborative community-based research as activism
Predictors of Unprotected Sex among Young Sexually Active African American, Hispanic, and White MSM
Sexual and ethnic identity development among gay–bisexual–questioning (GBQ) male ethnic minority adolescents
Identity development is a critical task of adolescence and occurs across multiple areas of self-identification. Although research on the identity development process among individuals who are ethnic and sexual minorities has been conducted for individuals who have 1 minority status or the other, few studies have examined these processes in people who are both ethnic and sexual minorities. In this qualitative study, the authors examined the dual i…
Legal Service Needs and Utilization of Women Who Trade Sex
Negotiating Dominant Masculinity Ideology
In the context of a U.S. dominant masculinity ideology, which devalues men who are not heterosexually identified, many gay, bisexual and questioning (GBQ) adolescent males must develop their own affirming and health‐promoting sense of masculinity. In order to promote the well‐being of GBQ young men, exploration of their reactions and responses to dominant images of masculinity is needed. We qualitatively analyzed interviews with 39 GBQ African Am…
The Role of Multiple Identities in Adherence to Medical Appointments Among Gay/Bisexual Male Adolescents Living with HIV
Victimization and Sexual Risk Behavior in Young, HIV Positive Women
An ecological analysis of research examining the experiences of students of color in graduate school
Future Life Goals of HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Male Emerging Adults
This qualitative study explores the future life goals reported by a sample of HIV-positive gay/bisexual male emerging adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants ages 17-24 at four geographically and demographically diverse adolescent HIV medicine programs to explore the content of participants’ goals, perceived obstacles and sources of resilience. We provide descriptive data on goals articulated by participants to begi…
Sexual Risk Behavior and Risk Reduction Beliefs Among HIV-Positive Young Men Who have Sex with Men
What's Good About Being Gay? Perspectives from Youth
This article explores gay and bisexual male adolescents' positive perceptions of their sexual orientation identity. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents in Chicago (N=42) and Miami (N=21). Data revealed two major conceptual categories: 1) positive personal conceptualizations of being gay/bisexual, and 2) resiliency in the face of gay-related oppression. Additional pri…
Examining natural mentoring relationships (NMRs) among self-identified gay, bisexual, and questioning (GBQ) male youth
Age-Concordant and Age-Discordant Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents
Alcohol use predicts sexual risk behavior with HIV-negative or partners of unknown status among young HIV-positive men who have sex with men
Although the relationship between substance use and heightened sexual risk behaviors have been documented in samples of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and HIV-positive adult men who have sex with men (MSM), there is a dearth of research on the role of substance use in the sexual risk behaviors of HIV-positive YMSM. We examined associations between alcohol and other drug use with sexual risk behaviors among a sample of HIV-positive YMSM (N…
PrEP Awareness and Perceived Barriers Among Single Young Men who have Sex with Men
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to help reduce new HIV infections among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Using a cross-sectional survey of YMSM (N=1,507; ages 18-24), we gauged YMSM's PrEP awareness and PrEP-related beliefs regarding side effects, accessibility, and affordability. Overall, 27% of the sample had heard about PrEP; 1% reported ever using PrEP prior to sex. In a multivariate logistic regression, we found that…
Information Age
Psychology (89 works) · Medicine (78 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (59 works) · Psychiatry (52 works) · Social Psychology (52 works) · Sociology (52 works) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy (45 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (39 works) · Clinical Psychology (39 works) · Public health (38 works)