The other side of the healthy relationships intervention: Mental health outcomes and correlates of sexual risk behavior change

Healthy Relationships is a small-group, social cognitive theory-based HIV prevention intervention designed for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Healthy Relationships intervention was demonstrated effective in a controlled randomized clinical trial. The intervention also integrated stress reduction with sexual risk reduction techniques, but the mental health outcomes from the intervention have not vet been reported. This study examined the 6-month follow-up mental health outcomes of the Healthy Relationships intervention among 81 HIV-positive study participants (45 in the Healthy Relationships condition and 36 in the health maintenance control condition) who reported sexual relationships with HIV-negative or unknown HIV status (nonconcordant) partners. Compared with the time-matched control condition, the Healthy Relationships intervention demonstrated significant reductions in perceived HIV-related stress. There le was also evidence that reductions in perceived HIV-related stress mediated the intervention effects on sexual risk behaviors with nonconcordant partners. Results have implications for designing the next generation of HIV prevention interventions targeted to people living with HIV/AIDS.