News Finding: "First, more funding needs to be available to support research that is strengths-based.
Paper Finding: Thus, men may have adaptive behaviors in common but may engage in these behaviors for different reasons.
News Context: Dacus provides some insight into what intentional engagement of these men might look like: "Strengths-based approaches to HIV prevention will necessitate both consideration and inclusion of prevention research, policy, practices, programming, and interventions for black gay and bisexual men," he said. "First, more funding needs to be available to support research that is strengths-based. What this will entail is for policymakers to recognize the gap in our research knowledge about how and why black gay and bisexual men are able to remain HIV negative in the face of such alarming seroprevalence."
Paper Context: Of note, risk reduction, while it is ultimately driven by behaviors (e.g., not going to bathhouses) which are often codified into cognitive rules (e.g., ''I avoid bathhouses''), is supported by underlying beliefs, preferences and values (e.g., ''I avoid bathhouses because I'm scared of germs and places like that are filled with germs'' or ''I avoid the gay scene''). Thus, men may have adaptive behaviors in common but may engage in these behaviors for different reasons. The next step is filtering the partner pool down to a smaller set and screening potential candidates to fit personal preferences.