The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach

Gideon Livingstone Bendicion; Augil Marie Robles; Moniq  Muyargas; Timoteo  Balensoy III; Bea Izabeaux  Mendoza; Kiara Angela  Sarmiento; ML  Demaisip Farinas; Aron Harold Pamoso; Angelique Pearl Virtue Villasanta; Panaligan Just Lynn; Joseph Eleut Violago; Ver Reyes; Jonathan Fontilla

doi:10.1177/00221465251388639

The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach

Gideon Livingstone Bendicion^*
, Augil Marie Robles
, Moniq Muyargas
, Timoteo Balensoy III
, Bea Izabeaux Mendoza
, Kiara Angela Sarmiento
, ML Demaisip Farinas
, Aron Harold Pamoso
, Angelique Pearl Virtue Villasanta
, Panaligan Just Lynn
, Joseph Eleut Violago
, Ver Reyes
, Jonathan Fontilla

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We characterize the way human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma hinders HIV conversations and testing. Using grounded theory principles, we analyzed in-depth interviews of the experiences of select Philippine key populations (groups with high HIV burden) and their families: 19 men who have sex with men (KPM), 16 transgender women (KPW), and 16 parents of KPM/W. Results show how KPM/W protect the state of being respected by others (management of social standing), a task they engage in by strategically modulating behavior in different life domains, including when considering HIV conversations and testing. Our results specify the management of social standing as an object being threatened by stigma and as a process making KPM/W behavior susceptible to the influence of HIV stigma, even for KPM/W who may not possess the mark of positive serostatus. This raises questions about the theorizing of stigma, which traditionally has focused on the susceptibility of marked but not unmarked individuals.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	135-154
Number of pages	20
Journal	Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Volume	67
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465251388639
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2025
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1177/00221465251388639Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Bendicion, G. L., Robles, A. M., Muyargas, M., Balensoy III, T., Mendoza, B. I., Sarmiento, K. A., Demaisip Farinas, ML., Pamoso, A. H., Villasanta, A. P. V., Just Lynn, P., Violago, J. E., Reyes, V., & Fontilla, J. (2025). The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 67(1), 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465251388639

@article{509648d5f2374152831a94fb885ae10a,

title = "The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach",

abstract = "We characterize the way human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma hinders HIV conversations and testing. Using grounded theory principles, we analyzed in-depth interviews of the experiences of select Philippine key populations (groups with high HIV burden) and their families: 19 men who have sex with men (KPM), 16 transgender women (KPW), and 16 parents of KPM/W. Results show how KPM/W protect the state of being respected by others (management of social standing), a task they engage in by strategically modulating behavior in different life domains, including when considering HIV conversations and testing. Our results specify the management of social standing as an object being threatened by stigma and as a process making KPM/W behavior susceptible to the influence of HIV stigma, even for KPM/W who may not possess the mark of positive serostatus. This raises questions about the theorizing of stigma, which traditionally has focused on the susceptibility of marked but not unmarked individuals. ",

author = "Bendicion, \{Gideon Livingstone\} and Robles, \{Augil Marie\} and Moniq Muyargas and \{Balensoy III\}, Timoteo and Mendoza, \{Bea Izabeaux\} and Sarmiento, \{Kiara Angela\} and \{Demaisip Farinas\}, ML and Pamoso, \{Aron Harold\} and Villasanta, \{Angelique Pearl Virtue\} and \{Just Lynn\}, Panaligan and Violago, \{Joseph Eleut\} and Ver Reyes and Jonathan Fontilla",

note = "{\textcopyright}2025 The authors",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1177/00221465251388639",

language = "English",

volume = "67",

pages = "135--154",

journal = "Journal of Health and Social Behavior",

issn = "0022-1465",

publisher = "American Sociological Association",

number = "1",

}

Bendicion, GL, Robles, AM, Muyargas, M, Balensoy III, T, Mendoza, BI, Sarmiento, KA, Demaisip Farinas, ML, Pamoso, AH, Villasanta, APV, Just Lynn, P, Violago, JE, Reyes, V & Fontilla, J 2025, 'The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach', Journal of Health and Social Behavior, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465251388639

The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach. / Bendicion, Gideon Livingstone; Robles, Augil Marie; Muyargas, Moniq et al.
In: Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 67, No. 1, 20.11.2025, p. 135-154.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach

AU - Bendicion, Gideon Livingstone

AU - Robles, Augil Marie

AU - Muyargas, Moniq

AU - Balensoy III, Timoteo

AU - Mendoza, Bea Izabeaux

AU - Sarmiento, Kiara Angela

AU - Demaisip Farinas, ML

AU - Pamoso, Aron Harold

AU - Villasanta, Angelique Pearl Virtue

AU - Just Lynn, Panaligan

AU - Violago, Joseph Eleut

AU - Reyes, Ver

AU - Fontilla, Jonathan

PY - 2025/11/20

Y1 - 2025/11/20

N2 - We characterize the way human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma hinders HIV conversations and testing. Using grounded theory principles, we analyzed in-depth interviews of the experiences of select Philippine key populations (groups with high HIV burden) and their families: 19 men who have sex with men (KPM), 16 transgender women (KPW), and 16 parents of KPM/W. Results show how KPM/W protect the state of being respected by others (management of social standing), a task they engage in by strategically modulating behavior in different life domains, including when considering HIV conversations and testing. Our results specify the management of social standing as an object being threatened by stigma and as a process making KPM/W behavior susceptible to the influence of HIV stigma, even for KPM/W who may not possess the mark of positive serostatus. This raises questions about the theorizing of stigma, which traditionally has focused on the susceptibility of marked but not unmarked individuals.

AB - We characterize the way human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma hinders HIV conversations and testing. Using grounded theory principles, we analyzed in-depth interviews of the experiences of select Philippine key populations (groups with high HIV burden) and their families: 19 men who have sex with men (KPM), 16 transgender women (KPW), and 16 parents of KPM/W. Results show how KPM/W protect the state of being respected by others (management of social standing), a task they engage in by strategically modulating behavior in different life domains, including when considering HIV conversations and testing. Our results specify the management of social standing as an object being threatened by stigma and as a process making KPM/W behavior susceptible to the influence of HIV stigma, even for KPM/W who may not possess the mark of positive serostatus. This raises questions about the theorizing of stigma, which traditionally has focused on the susceptibility of marked but not unmarked individuals.

UR - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397802535_The_Management_of_Social_Standing_Characterizing_the_Influence_of_HIV_Stigma_on_HIV_Talk_and_Testing_Behavior_in_Philippine_Key_Populations_Using_a_Grounded_Theory_Approach

U2 - 10.1177/00221465251388639

DO - 10.1177/00221465251388639

M3 - Article

SN - 0022-1465

VL - 67

SP - 135

EP - 154

JO - Journal of Health and Social Behavior

JF - Journal of Health and Social Behavior

IS - 1

ER -

The Management of Social Standing: Characterizing the Influence of HIV Stigma on HIV Talk and Testing Behavior in Philippine Key Populations Using a Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

“Because of HIV, It Opened My Mind”: Intersectional Stigma Experiences Among Filipino Gay and Bisexual Men Living With HIV

Communicating truths: promoting HIV and stigma awareness through storytelling and devised performances inspired by the #MayStigmaBa? Project qualitative research

May Stigma Ba? (Is there stigma?): A Qualitative Investigation into HIV Stigma in the Philippine Context 2021

Cite this