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Exploring the Longitudinal Influence of Perceived Social Support, HIV Stigma, and Future Orientation on Depressive Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in China

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Abstract

Prior studies demonstrated that perceived social support is negatively associated with behavioral and mental health problems among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, longitudinal data regarding the associations between perceived social support, internalized HIV stigma, future orientation, and depressive symptoms are limited. The current study aimed to investigate the possible indirect relationship between these variables using four-wave follow-up data (6-month intervals) from a sample of 1,098 Chinese PLWH (Mage = 38.63, SD = 9.20, age range: 18–60 years; 63.9% men). All participants were asked to complete an adapted version of Perceived Social Support Scale, Internalized HIV Stigma Scale, Optimism About the Future Scale, and Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Results indicated that perceived social support at baseline was negatively related to depressive symptoms at wave 4. Internalized HIV stigma at wave 2 and future orientation at wave 3 indirectly affected the linkage between perceived social support at baseline and depressive symptoms serially over time. This study highlights the essential role of perceived social support in alleviating depressive symptoms among PLWH, and underscores the complex interplay in which internalized HIV stigma and future orientation serially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest the need for integrated interventions to enhance social support, address HIV-related stigma, and promote positive future orientation, which could potentially alleviate depressive symptoms and promote mental well-being among PLWH.

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Funding

The research was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) (Grant No. R01MH0112376).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Science, School of Education Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan, China

    Guangzhe Frank Yuan

  2. Department of Health Promotion Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Guangzhe Frank Yuan, Ran Zhang, Shan Qiao & Xiaoming Li

  3. South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Ran Zhang, Shan Qiao & Xiaoming Li

  4. Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China

    Zhiyong Shen & Yuejiao Zhou

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GFY designed the study, performed data analysis, and wrote the initial manuscript. RZ, SQ, XL, ZS, and YZ performed data collection and interpretation, editing, and gave critical review. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to Guangzhe Frank Yuan.

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Yuan, G.F., Zhang, R., Qiao, S. et al. Exploring the Longitudinal Influence of Perceived Social Support, HIV Stigma, and Future Orientation on Depressive Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in China. AIDS Behav 28, 1662–1672 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-024-04292-4

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