“Wellness is wholeness”: Explorations of wellness among Black gay men

Abstract

The Indivisible Self Model of Wellness undergirded this mixed methods phenomenological exploration of the conceptualizations and experiences of wellness among nine Black gay men who had not tested positive for HIV. Data sources included in-depth semistructured interviews and participant responses on the Five Factor Wellness Inventory. The following themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the interview transcripts: holistic self-love, spiritual journey, kinship, social responsibility, sexual literacy, and approaches to HIV prevention. Additionally, cross-validation of the qualitative and quantitative data revealed the central roles that social connectedness and spirituality played in these men's lives. Findings from this study provide a detailed picture of wellness within this sample and indicate considerations for expanding wellness to account for sexual health and wellness practices.