“I Have Moments Where I Am Down, But It Has Made Me Resilient”: Mental Health Strengths Among Youth At-Risk for and Living with HIV

Abstract

We analyzed mental health strengths among youth at-risk for or living with HIV ages 14 to 24 years. In total, 13% of participants were living with HIV, 88% identified as LGBQ+, and 14% identified as transgender, gender diverse, or non-binary. Most identified as either Hispanic/Latine (36%) or non-Hispanic Black (44%). Data from 257 youth in Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana, were collected within strengths-based coaching interventions for HIV prevention and treatment continuums through the Adolescent HIV Medicine Trials Network. Case notes from strengths assessment responses were analyzed to identify participants’ mental health strengths. Data were analyzed using content analysis and a theoretical lens integrating resilience theory and the minority stress model. In all, 96.9% of participants identified at least one strength. Participants described intrapersonal resilience assets (protective traits, stress management activities, feeling positive despite challenges, and no current mental health problems) and external resilience resources (peer and family social/emotional support and professional mental health care with sub-themes therapy/counseling and medication use). These results may inform the implementation of this coaching intervention and highlight youth’s ability to identify their strengths related to their mental health.