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Enacted HIV-Related Stigma’s Association with Anxiety & Depression Among People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Florida

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Abstract

Research has shown that HIV-related stigma contributes to people living with HIV having a higher risk of mental health disorders. Our study examines the association between enacted HIV-related stigma and symptoms of anxiety and depression among PLWH. We used baseline data from 932 PLWH collected from the Florida Cohort study between 2014 and 2018. The sample was majority 45 + years of age (63.5%), male (66.0%), and Black (58.1%). The majority had previously experienced enacted HIV-related stigma (53.1%). Additionally, 56.6% and 65.2% showed mild to moderate/severe levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. Those who experienced any levels of enacted HIV-related stigma (vs none) had significantly greater odds of mild and moderate/severe levels of anxiety (vs no/minimal) (AOR[CI] 1.54[1.13, 2.10], p = 0.006; AOR[CI] 3.36[2.14, 5.26], p < 0.001, respectively) and depression (AOR[CI] 1.61[1.19, 2.18], p = 0.002; AOR[CI]  3.66[2.32, 5.77], p < 0.001, respectively). Findings suggest a need to evaluate interventions for PLWH to reduce the deleterious effects of enacted HIV-related stigma on mental health.

Resumen

Investigaciones previas han documentado que el estigma relacionado con el VIH contribuye al alto riesgo de trastornos de salud mental entre las personas que viven con VIH. Nuestro estudio examina la asociación entre el estigma declarado y síntomas de ansiedad y depresión entre las personas que viven con VIH. Utilizamos datos de referencia recopilados por el “Florida Cohort Study” de 932 personas que viven con VIH. La mayoría de la muestra sobrepasaba 45 años (63.5%), era masculina (66.0%), y racialmente negra (58.1%). La mayoría había experimentado estigma declarado (53.1%). Además, 56.5% y 65.2% mostro niveles de síntomas leves a moderados/severos de ansiedad y depresión, respectivamente. Aquellos que experimentaron cualquier nivel de estigma declarado (vs ninguno) tenían mayores probabilidades de niveles de síntomas leves y moderados/severos de ansiedad (vs ninguno) (ORa[IC] 1.54[1.13, 2.10], p = 0.006; ORa[IC] 3.36[2.14, 5.26], p < 0.001, respectivamente) y depresión (ORa[IC]  1.61[1.19, 2.18], p = 0.002; ORa[IC]  3.66[2.32, 5.77], p < 0.001, respectivamente). Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de evaluar las intervenciones para las personas que viven con VIH para reducir los efectos nocivos del estigma declarado en la salud mental.

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Funding

Funding was provided by National Institutes of Health (US) (Grant No. U24AA020002), National Institutes of Health (Grant Nos. U24AA020003, K01MD013770, 5K02DA035122), and Florida Department of Health (Grant No. Contract).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St. AHC5-505, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Angel B. Algarin & Gladys E. Ibanez

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Center for Research On U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) and FIU Research Center in Minority Institutions (FIU-RCMI), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St. AHC5-505, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Diana M. Sheehan

  3. Department of Global & Sociocultural Studies, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St. SIPA 3rd Floor, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Nelson Varas-Diaz

  4. Division of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA

    Kristopher Fennie

  5. Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Rd, PO Box 100231, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Zhi Zhou & Robert L. Cook

  6. Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, FL, 32399, USA

    Emma C. Spencer

  7. College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, 12201 Research Parkway Suite 300, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA

    Christa L. Cook

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  1. Angel B. Algarin
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Correspondence to Angel B. Algarin.

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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 3 and 4 .

Table 3 Variable list of survey covariates used to create mental health risk indices
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Table 4 Varimax rotation factor pattern
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Algarin, A.B., Sheehan, D.M., Varas-Diaz, N. et al. Enacted HIV-Related Stigma’s Association with Anxiety & Depression Among People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Florida. AIDS Behav 25, 93–103 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02948-5

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