Emotional and Behavior Difficulties and the Mental Health of Caregivers of Adolescents Living with HIV

This study examined the relationship between child emotional and behavioral difficulties, parenting stress and the mental health of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. Caregiver data from a two-year pilot study for adolescents and their caregivers (N = 89 dyads) in Uganda, were analyzed. Ordinary Least Square regression models were conducted to examine the association between child difficulties reported by caregivers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire on parenting stress (measured by Parenting Stress Index) and caregiver mental health (measured by the Brief Symptoms Inventory). Results indicate that 12.36% of caregivers reported child difficulty scores within the borderline range and 8.99% reported scores within the abnormal range. Child difficulties (b = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.85) were associated with parenting stress. Similarly, the perceived impact of child difficulties was associated with both parenting stress (b = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.54) and caregiver mental health (b = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.37). Study findings have important implications for developing effective psychosocial interventions targeting children and adolescents living with HIV and their caregivers.