Having a primary partner relates to health benefits among gay/bisexual HIV-positive men, across the lifespan

Converging evidence states heterosexuals with a primary romantic partner report better physical, mental, and physiological health than single heterosexuals. However, the association between partnership status and health outcomes among gay/bisexual males is under-researched. Also under-researched is the differential association between partnership and health in various gay/bisexual male age groups. Young gay/bisexual males, specifically, may benefit from partnerships, as they report relatively poor mental and physical health, and low social support, compared to older gay/bisexual men. Data were obtained from 267 HIV-positive men in a safe-sex behavioral intervention. We hypothesized that, compared to single men, partnered men would report better mental (anxiety, depression) and physical (substance use, sexual risk) health, and look healthier physiologically (via clinically-obtained viral load, T-cell count). We also hypothesized a moderation by age – that partnered gay/bisexual men 25 and under, particularly, would report better health than their single counterparts. Mean sample age was 39.6 years (SD=8.6). Approximately half of men (n=132) were partnered. ANCOVA results indicated partnered men reported less hard drug use than single men (p < .05). Partnered men trended toward reporting more perceived emotional and instrumental support than single men (ps < .10). These associations were not moderated by age; partnered and single gay/bisexual men 25 and under did not report greater differences in these outcomes than other age groups (26-35, 36-45, 46+). Overall, having a primary partner relates to several important health benefits among HIV-positive gay/bisexual men, across the lifespan. Potential mediators of these associations, and implications for future research, are discussed.