The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 1693 - 1702
• Main Authors: Hong, Chenglin, Ochoa, Ayako Miyashita, Wilson, Bianca D. M., Wu, Elizabeth S. C., Thomas, Damone, Holloway, Ian W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Anxiety; Clinical outcomes; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - psychology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental Health; Personal Satisfaction; Public Health; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Quality of Life Research; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Social Stigma; Sociology; Stigma; Depression; Anxiety; Black sexual minority men; HIV stigma; Life satisfaction; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03342-z

Purpose With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV. Methods We analyzed baseline data from a randomized comparison trial of a mobile app intervention aimed to address the social work and legal needs of Black sexual minority men with HIV in Los Angeles County. We used validated scales including the Berger HIV stigma scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 & the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Ladder Scale to assess HIV stigma, depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, and we conducted multivariable linear regression to examine their associations. Results Participants experienced HIV stigma especially about disclosure concerns (e.g., 81.9% participants indicated “ I am very careful who I tell that I have HIV ”) and public attitudes (52.3% believed “ Most people with HIV are rejected when others find out ”). In the multivariable models, higher overall stigma scores were associated with higher likelihood of experiencing depression (adjusted b  = 0.235, p  < 0.001) and anxiety (adjusted b  = 0.188, p  = 0.002), and lower life satisfaction (adjusted b  = − 0.236, p  < 0.001) and quality of life (adjusted b  = − 0.053, p  = 0.013), adjusting for clinical characteristics including ART initiation, viral load suppression, and medication adherence. In addition, being attacked or harassed in the past year were significantly associated with lower life satisfaction and quality of life (adjusted b  = − 3.028, p  = 0.046; adjusted b  = − 1.438, p  = 0.002). Conclusion Our findings highlight the need for focused HIV stigma reduction interventions to promote the overall well-being of Black sexual minority men with HIV. Strategies to promote the patient-reported outcomes may benefit from trauma-informed approaches.