HIV-Related Stress Experienced by Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in China: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This study explored the HIV-related stressors that people living with HIV (PLWH) commonly experience and express as stressful at the time of diagnosis and 1 year later. The factors associated with stress levels and whether social support would moderate the negative effects of stress on psychological health (depressive and anxiety symptoms) were also investigated. Newly diagnosed PLWH were consecutively recruited in this study. Participants rated their stress with the HIV/AIDS Stress Scale at baseline and 1 year later. Social support, depression, and anxiety were also self-reported at both time points. There were significant decreases in stress levels 1 year after diagnosis. Stressors regarding confidentiality, disclosure, emotional distress, fear of infecting others, and excessive attention to physical functions were the most problematic at baseline and 1-year follow-up. A younger age, married status, not living alone, less income, presence of HIV symptoms, and lack of social support were associated with higher levels of stress. No stress-buffering effect of social support on depressive and anxiety symptoms was found in this study. Interventions to reduce stress among PLWH should take into consideration the following priority stressors: confidentiality, discrimination/stigma, serostatus disclosure, distressing emotions, fear of infecting others, and excessive attention to physical functions. More attention should be paid to PLWH with younger age, not living alone, less income, presence of HIV symptoms, and lack of social support.

Psychological Distress and Its Correlates among Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Northwest Ethiopia: Ordinal Logistic Regression Analyses

“…The finding was in agreement with many studies in the field. 9,11,14,16,17,[19][20][21]34,36,38,39 Stigma and discrimination are major barriers to testing, treatment uptake, and adherence. 40 Patients who suffered from depression as a result of stigma are more likely to experience worsening disease states and, thus, poorer health outcomes.…”

“…At the time of HIV diagnosis, the level of psychological distress among newly identified HIV patients is high. 9 But it decreased over time due to an individual positive thinking and other coping behaviors. 20 Mental health affects both HIV patients' treatment uptake and clinical outcomes.…”

Self-rated health among people living with HIV in Spain in 2019: a cross-sectional study

“…One possible explanation for this finding lies in the fact that being diagnosed with HIV infection has been considered a stressful life event with psychological consequences such as depressive and anxiety symptoms [ 37 ]. Worries about confidentiality, disclosure, discrimination or stigma, and fear of infecting others, have been described as main stressors among newly HIV diagnosed [ 38 ]. Interventions for detecting and reducing stress among recently diagnosed PLHIV will contribute to improve self-rated health.…”

The Disparities in Mental Health Between Gay and Bisexual Men Following Positive HIV Diagnosis in China: A One-Year Follow-Up Study

“…The lesser the decreases in social stress levels one year after diagnosis, the lesser the improvement in the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The majority of individuals have to struggle with multiple social stress after receiving HIV diagnosis, such as disclosure concerns, HIV-related stigma, and discrimination [54]. These have been previously associated with mental health among people living with HIV [55].…”