Concerns about stigma, social support and quality of life in low-income HIV-positive Hispanics

Ethn Dis. 2009 Winter;19(1):65-70.

Abstract

Persons living with HIV in the United States face social stigma related to their health conditions. The present study evaluated the relationship between concerns about HIV-related stigma, quality of life, and social support and evaluated social support as a possible pathway contributing to the relationship between stigma concerns and quality of life in low-income Hispanics living with HIV (N = 160). Persons who expressed greater HIV-related stigma concerns in the context of receiving medical care reported poorer psychological functioning (R2 delta = .08, P < .01), lower physical functioning (R2 delta = .03, P < .05), and a decreased ability to complete daily activities (R2 delta = .06, P < .01). In addition, higher levels of stigma concerns were associated with lower social support (R2 delta = .15, P < .001). Mediation analyses showed that social support accounted, in part, for the relationship between stigma concerns and physical functioning (z = 2.16, P < .05), psychological functioning (z = 3.18, P < .001), and interference with daily activities (z = 2.95, P < .01). Interventions directed toward dispelling HIV-related social stigma by educating patients, communities, and physicians would be beneficial to improve quality of life in Hispanics living with HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • California / epidemiology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / ethnology*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Surveys
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life*
  • Self Care
  • Social Support*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Stereotyping*
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Young Adult