HIV Stigma and Its Relation to Mental, Physical and Social Health Among Black Women Living with HIV/AIDS

Letitia E. Travaglini, Seth S. Himelhoch, Li Juan Fang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Black women living with HIV/AIDS (LWHA) are a subgroup with the highest growing rates of HIV infection in the United States. Stigma and co-occurring mental and physical health problems have been reported among Black women LWHA, and research on the benefits of social and religious support, often major protective factors among Black women, has been met with mixed findings. The current study examined the relation between anticipated HIV stigma and mental and physical health symptoms and risk and protective factors (discrimination, coping, social support) among Black women LWHA (N = 220). Results showed that greater anticipated stigma was significantly related to poorer mental health status, greater discrimination, and greater use of negative coping strategies. Stigma was not related to physical health, perceived social support or use of positive coping strategies. This study lends support to the need for psychosocial interventions that reduce anticipated stigma among individuals LWHA, particularly Black women LWHA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3783-3794
Number of pages12
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume22
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.

Keywords

  • Anticipated stigma
  • Black/African American women
  • Coping
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Mental health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'HIV Stigma and Its Relation to Mental, Physical and Social Health Among Black Women Living with HIV/AIDS'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this