Positive Social Support and Mental Health Among Two-Spirit and Heterosexual Aboriginal People Living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario

Social support is an important predictor of health in people living with HIV, but little research has specifically investigated its role within cultural and demographic groups such as Aboriginal and two-spirit people. Our objective was to examine the role social support plays in predicting health outcomes of Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS (APHAs) in Ontario with a specific focus on the potential differences in access to and effect of social support among two-spirit APHAs. In 2006, 79 Aboriginal participants completed the Positive Spaces, Healthy Places baseline questionnaire. We analyzed the association between social support and mental and physical health outcomes using the Medical Outcome Survey for HIV patients. Better mental health in APHAs was associated with being older, being male, and having higher levels of emotional / informational and affectionate support. Physical health was not significantly associated with social support. There was no difference in the level of social support or health 08 Fall