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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford
@giff95.bsky.social
65 followers 80 following 11 posts
I like dancing, running, research, and men. (He/Him) 🏳️‍🌈
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annayahprosser.bsky.social
Annayah M.B. Prosser @annayahprosser.bsky.social · 1d
🛡️ It's dangerous to go alone, take this! ⚔️
Since 2023, I've been working on a collection that explores what the Legend of Zelda video games can teach us about psychology, social science and our environment. Our collection is available open-access here: playstorypress.org/books/the-ps... #videogames
A book cover. Mountains in the background, a rocky outcrop in the foreground with a broadsword sticking out of the rock in the centre. The title reads "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Legend of Zelda, Edited by Annayah M.B. Prosser, PhD.
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · 2d
Never dreamt that I would be able to combine two of my favourite things: The Legend of Zelda and LGBTQ+ Psychology ⚔️ 🏳️‍🌈 🧠 🎮

Thank you to @annayahprosser.bsky.social and @drkowert.bsky.social for this opportunity!

Read my chapter “Smash the pot, break the binary”: works.hcommons.org/records/z0qv...
The Psychgeist of Pop Culture - Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda series captivates millions of players worldwide. We have followed Link, Zelda and Ganon through many quests, timelines and consoles. What can playing the Legend of Zelda games teac...
works.hcommons.org
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jgarciaiglesias.bsky.social
Jaime Garcia Iglesias @jgarciaiglesias.bsky.social · Sep 8
Amazing review on @nagingtonuom.bsky.social’s The Moral Lessons of Chemsex boom in the LA REVIEW OF BOOKS! @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

lareviewofbooks.org/article/crui...
Cruising as Moral Practice | Los Angeles Review of Books
Jordan Osserman reads two recent queer theory books exploring the form and chemistry of sex.
lareviewofbooks.org
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Aug 29
What’s better than submitting your thesis? Getting your absolute icon to sign said thesis (and read my acknowledgment to her as well ofc 😌)
Anthony is stood next to actress Rosamund Pike with his thesis in hand after she had just signed it.
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Aug 12
PhD paper #4 published today, in a special issue for studies examining healthcare for Sexual Minority populations. (Just in time for thesis submission 😱)

Key findings show the promise for using gain-framed, narrative messaging to improve PrEP self efficacy.

@ntupsychology.bsky.social
Abstract from my latest paper: Abstract Background: Despite the clinical efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV, uptake remains suboptimal among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom (UK). Sustaining progress in the PrEP cascade requires more than biomedical availability; it demands effective, psychologically informed interventions that address persistent barriers. Psychological factors, such as medical mistrust, low PrEP self-efficacy, and identity-related processes, continue to undermine engagement. This study tested whether narrative persuasion and message framing could influence these barriers. Method: A sample of 253 MSM was recruited to participate in an online experiment and completed baseline measures of identity resilience before being randomly allocated to either the gain-framed (N = 122) or loss-framed (N = 124) narrative condition and then completing post-manipulation measures of medical mistrust and PrEP self-efficacy. After excluding 7 cases due to ineligibility, data from 246 participants were analysed using mediation analysis. Results: Participants in the gain-framed condition reported lower medical mistrust than those in the loss-framed condition. Medical mistrust was, in turn, associated with lower PrEP self-efficacy. Identity resilience was associated with lower medical mistrust and higher PrEP self-efficacy. Discussion: These findings provide novel causal evidence that gain-framed health narratives can reduce mistrust and indirectly enhance PrEP self-efficacy. Identity resilience also emerges as a key psychological factor influencing trust and behavioural confidence. Conclusions: Interventions to improve and sustain PrEP uptake should combine gain-framed, narrative-based messaging with strategies to bolster identity resilience. Such approaches may address psychosocial barriers more effectively and promote equitable PrEP uptake among MSM.
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benvyle.bsky.social
benjamin weil @benvyle.bsky.social · Jul 17
the condom doctrine is so powerful (and moralising) that some sexual health services will literally communicate things like: "remember, HIV PrEP, doxyPEP, and routine vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, mpox, gonorrhoea, and more are no replacement for a condom!!!!"
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Reposted by Anthony Gifford
roxanegay.bsky.social
Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · Jun 19
I will take AI seriously when my smart speaker understands the phrase “original broadway cast recording.”
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lizhighleyman.bsky.social
Liz Highleyman @lizhighleyman.bsky.social · Jun 19
The FDA approved twice-yearly lenacapavir (Yeztugo) for PrEP, making it the longest-acting HIV prevention method. Advocates lauded the eagerly awaited approval but expressed concern that the $28,000 annual price tag could limit access as HIV prevention funding is being slashed in the US & worldwide.
FDA Approves Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention
More than 99% of people who received Yeztugo in two large clinical trials remained HIV negative.
www.poz.com
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Jun 14
PhD Paper #3 published in the Psychology of Sexual and Gender Diversity special issue in Behavioural Science.

A latent profile analysis of PrEP usage among MSM in the U.K.

Endless thanks to Rusi Jaspal, Beth Jones and @daraghmcdermott.bsky.social

@ntupsychology.bsky.social
Title and abstract of a recently published paper. Psychosocial Profiles of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Influencing PrEP Acceptability: A Latent Profile Analysis Despite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the United Kingdom (UK), uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) remains inconsistent, signalling a persistent ‘PrEP Gap’. Empirical studies show the important role of psychosocial factors (e.g., stigma, identity, trust in science, and sexual behaviours) in PrEP acceptability and uptake. This study aimed to identify subgroups of MSM in the UK based on psychosocial predictors of PrEP acceptability. A cross-sectional survey of MSM (N = 500) was conducted between June and September 2023. Participants completed validated measures assessing identity resilience, internalised homonegativity, LGBTQ+ connectedness, trust in science, NHS perceptions, HIV stigma, PrEP self-efficacy, condom self-efficacy, sociosexual orientation, perceived HIV risk, and PrEP acceptability. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct subgroups based on these psychosocial dimensions. Four psychosocial profiles were defined: (1) PrEP Ambivalent (15%); (2) PrEP Accepting (36.2%); (3) PrEP Hesitant (37%); and (4) PrEP Rejecting (11.8%). These profiles provide evidence for varied combinations of personal and structural factors influencing PrEP acceptability. PrEP acceptability among MSM in the UK is shaped by distinct psychosocial configurations, influenced by identity, stigma, trust, and perceived risk. These findings highlight the need for differentiated and targeted interventions for enhancing PrEP acceptability based on psychosocial profile. Audience segmentation strategies offer a promising pathway to bridge the awareness-to-engagement gap and address the nuanced barriers facing diverse subgroups within the MSM community. Keywords: LPA; PrEP; MSM; UK; acceptability; uptake
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benvyle.bsky.social
benjamin weil @benvyle.bsky.social · Jun 11
bravi to the authors of the 2025 BASHH/BHIVA UK PrEP guidelines for recognising that excessive reliance on RCT data necessarily reproduces inequalities for groups already marginalised or minoritised within healthcare. (see: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....) /1
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thelovetankcic.bsky.social
The Love Tank CIC @thelovetankcic.bsky.social · Jun 9
New UK guidelines for prescribing doxyPEP for syphilis prevention launched today by @bashhuk.bsky.social

The Love Tank played a key role in community engagement for the guidelines, with @benvyle.bsky.social and @idiosyncraticxl.bsky.social on the writing group.

www.thelovetank.info/news/doxysyph
DoxyPEP for syphilis prevention – new UK guidelines launched — The Love Tank CIC
New guidelines issued today by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) provides an evidence-based framework for the prescription of doxy PEP to prevent syphilis.
www.thelovetank.info
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · May 23
A good thesis is a done thesis, or so I tell myself! First draft (of many more, I’m sure) ✅
A picture of the first page of my doctoral thesis and a bottle of Bollinger champagne to celebrate
giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · May 7
Not me. Actually enjoying writing a methods chapter. Couldn’t possibly.
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Apr 22
So grateful for the opportunity to work on this paper and help present some really interesting findings 😁
cygraham.bsky.social
Cynthia Graham, Ph.D. @cygraham.bsky.social · Apr 21
Just published: A Theoretical Model for Predicting the Derivation of Sexual Satisfaction in Gay Men Rusi Jaspal et al.
@bashhuk.bsky.social @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A Theoretical Model for Predicting the Derivation of Sexual Satisfaction in Gay Men
This study tests a theoretical model of sexual satisfaction in gay men that incorporates self and self-with-other schemata, identity processes, and sexual communication behaviors. Structural equati...
www.tandfonline.com
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Apr 11
Or why can’t we stop normalising “publish and flourish” as the ECR ideal? 🤷‍♂️ It’s exclusionary, uneven across disciplines, and replicates a system many current academics didn’t face. Let’s build research cultures that value care, curiosity, and equity. Critique shouldn’t lead to compliance.
timeshighered.bsky.social
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · Apr 11
How can you balance the demands of your #PhD thesis with publishing other work to support your #academic career goals? Anjan Pal of @york.ac.uk offers practical strategies for managing both: www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/prepa... #research #academicsky #PhDsky
Preparing for a research-active career during your PhD
How can you balance the demands of your PhD with publishing other work that supports your career goals? This article offers practical strategies for managing both
www.timeshighereducation.com
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liamwignall.bsky.social
Liam Wignall @liamwignall.bsky.social · Apr 10
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Psychology & Sexuality is putting together a special issue on Sexual Subcultures. You can read the call below. Deadline for abstracts is 2nd June.

think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
Contemporary Sexual Subcultures: Meanings, Identities, Narratives, and Trends
think.taylorandfrancis.com
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Apr 5
Thrilled to share our new HIV Anxiety Scale.

This was a true collaborative effort, and I’m so thankful to have worked with the amazing @drliamcahill.bsky.social @daraghmcdermott.bsky.social and Dr Beth Jones to bring this from idea to reality.

doi.org/10.1007/s104...

@ntupsychology.bsky.social
Abstract for the HIV anxiety scale
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ntupsychology.bsky.social
NTU Psychology @ntupsychology.bsky.social · Mar 31
🌈 Celebrating #TransDayOfVisibility! Dr. Beth Jones and team explore how beliefs about gender shape attitudes toward TGD people. Let's foster inclusivity and amplify voices! ✨📄 Read more: psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
APA PsycNet
psycnet.apa.org
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willemjstander.bsky.social
Willem Stander @willemjstander.bsky.social · Mar 31
Exciting news! @unibirmingham.bsky.social & @inqyr.bsky.social are thrilled to co-host a symposium focused on LGBTQ+ health & resilience. Join us on 22 May 2025 for this important event.

Check out the press release below for more details (incl. a quote from me 😊)

🔗 shorturl.at/SSU7n
University of Birmingham to host INQYR symposium to enhance LGBTQ+ health and resilience - University of Birmingham
A symposium hosted by the University of Birmingham and INQYR, will examine the diverse factors shaping the lives of LGBTQ+ people.
shorturl.at
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Feb 28
Paper #2 from my PhD published today. It highlights the importance of considering identity resilience when trying to improve PrEP uptake for HIV prevention.

doi.org/10.1111/hiv....

@ntupsychology.bsky.social
Title page of my recently published article: Predicting PrEP acceptability and self‐efficacy among men who have sex with men in the UK: The roles of identity resilience, science mistrust, and stigma
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bhiva.bsky.social
British HIV Association @bhiva.bsky.social · Feb 11
We're pleased to see that the Scottish Medicines Consortium approval of injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for the prevention of HIV on the NHS in Scotland

This new option may help those facing barriers to using oral #PrEP

A significant step forward in #HIV prevention for people living in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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willemjstander.bsky.social
Willem Stander @willemjstander.bsky.social · Jan 26

Delighted to announce that the INQYR UK symposium focused on LGBTQ+ health & well-being will be held in Birmingham on May 22nd - in time for Birmingham Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Call for abstracts now open:
🔗 Submission: tinyurl.com/INQYRUK-2025
🗓️Deadline: Feb 28, 2025

Symposium registration will open soon!
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drliamcahill.bsky.social
Liam Cahill @drliamcahill.bsky.social · Jan 23
Didn’t notice this until now, but I lowkey feel famous: www.thepinknews.com/2024/09/17/b...
Gay and bisexual men have different levels of body satisfaction, study finds
Body satisfaction over leanness and muscularity from bisexual men to gay men is different, according to a new study.
www.thepinknews.com
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liamwignall.bsky.social
Liam Wignall @liamwignall.bsky.social · Jan 21
I'm giving a webinar in a few weeks with Seed Talks on Sexual Wellbeing and Pleasure. Feel free to come along: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sexual...
Advert for the sexual wellness and pleasure workshop with seed talks
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giff95.bsky.social
Anthony Gifford @giff95.bsky.social · Jan 19
From pointing my toes, to publishing prose - my first published article and the first study from my PhD.

Coming to a Google Scholar search near you!

doi.org/10.1080/1941...

@ntupsychology.bsky.social
Title of a journal article by Gifford et al. Why are PrEP gays always like this… psychosocial influences on UK-based men who have sex with men’s perceptions and use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.
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