Exploring Coping and Social Support with Gender and Education Among People Living with HIV in China

Abstract

Social support promotes positive coping strategies among people living with HIV (PLH); however, little is known about the various aspects of social support and their distinct effects on coping. The present study investigates the specific links between coping and perceived social support with respect to gender and education among PLH. A total of 522 PLH in Anhui, China, participated in an assessment that collected data on demographics, perceived tangible and emotional support, and cognitive and behavioral coping. The assessment was conducted using the computer-assisted personal interviewing method. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Emotional support was significantly associated with both cognitive and behavioral coping. Tangible support was significantly associated with behavioral coping but not with emotional coping. Women reported significantly lower levels of emotional support, cognitive coping, and behavioral coping than men did. Significant associations between tangible support and coping were found only among illiterate males. Women living with HIV are in greater need of social support and coping strategies. Future interventions should be gender specific, with targeted support for women with lower education levels to enhance their coping strategies.

Trajectories of Health-Related Quality of Life and Perceived Social Support Among People Living With HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Treatment: Does Gender Matter?

“…For a single woman, there was a higher probability of belonging to the increasing PSS trajectory than to the decreasing one, even if the starting points of both trajectories were only slightly different. Notably, this is inconsistent with results concerning female PLWH (Li et al, 2016), but it corresponds to research demonstrating that relationship status may have different consequences for men and women, with men benefiting more from marriage (Nock, 1998). Among PLWH, men also benefit more from social support, while women are more likely to seek it (Gordillo et al, 2009; Bekele et al, 2013).…”

Perception Difference on Sexually Transmitted Infections Between Domestic and Foreign Ship Crews (A Study at Merak Port of Banten)

“…The result of statistical analysis on revenue variable with perception on STIs transmission (p = 0.003; OR 5.748; 95% CI 1.59-20.68) shows significant difference (p ˂ 0.05). The results of the research are in accordance with the ones from the research of Li Li in China which reveals that there is a relationship between income in the population of people with HIV AIDS (p ˂ 0.05) [29]. The result of statistical analysis with correlation test on domestic ship crews' income shows that there is a significant relationship between incomes with perception on STIs transmission among domestic ship crews (p ˂ 0.05).…”

Coping Strategies of Economically Destitute Women Who Acquired HIV Through Paid Blood and Plasma Collections in Rural China

“…This finding is not a surprise, given the salience of informal social networks in rural areas in China. However, it should be noted that borrowing money from relatives became a less common practice after the implementation of social assistance programs, the provision of free antiretroviral medications for people living with HIV in China (Li et al, 2016; State Council of the People's Republic of China, 2006), and after the implementation of tuition subsidies for poor children in rural areas because students previously had to pay a small tuition fee after primary school (Zhang et al, 2011).…”