"40 & Forward": Preliminary Evaluation Of A Group Intervention To Improve Mental Health Outcomes And Address Hiv Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Older Gay And Bisexual Men

We examined the initial efficacy of "40 & Forward," a manualized group intervention developed to reduce HIV sexual risk for gay and bisexual men age 40 and older who self-report problems with depression, isolation/ loneliness, and social anxiety. A retrospective evaluation of program data from 84 participants (mean age = 51; 26% HIV infected) across four groups compared within-person change in mental health and sexual risk outcomes between baseline and post-intervention assessments. Participants who completed the intervention demonstrated statistically significant reductions across all mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms,"(social anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and fear of negative evaluation, as well as increased condom use self-efficacy. Current findings offer a promising approach for additional research and intervention development with this population of aging sexual minority men.