Social Motives, Social Support, and Distress in Gay Men Differing in HIV Status

Intimacy motivation, power motivation, and perceived social support were examined as predictors of psychological distress in gay men who were HIV− ( N = 38), who had AIDS ( N = 39), or who were HIV+ but did not have AIDS ( N = 48). Social motives were assessed using Emmons' (1986) personal strivings methodology. Multiple-regression analyses revealed that Intimacy Striving and Perceived Social Support were inversely related to distress, but Power Striving was positively related to distress. The effect of Power Striving was especially strong in the group of HIV+ individuals who did not have AIDS. Perceived Social Support mediated the relation of Intimacy Striving to distress; that is, gay men in the HIV+ and AIDS groups with high levels of Intimacy Striving were more likely to perceive that social support was available to them and in turn reported less psychological distress.