The Dynamic Relationship Between Social Support and HIV-related Stigma in Rural Uganda

Overview

Journal Ann Behav Med

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2014 Feb 7

PMID 24500077

Citations 72

Authors

Sae Takada

Sheri D Weiser

Elias Kumbakumba

Conrad Muzoora

Jeffrey N Martin

Peter W Hunt

Jessica E Haberer

Annet Kawuma

David R Bangsberg

Alexander C Tsai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cross-sectional studies show that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma is negatively correlated with social support.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the bidirectional relationship between social support and HIV stigma.

Methods: We collected quarterly data from a cohort of 422 people living with HIV in Uganda, followed for a median of 2.1 years. We used multilevel regression to model the contemporaneous and 3-month-lagged associations between social support and both enacted and internalized stigma.

Results: Lagged enacted stigma was negatively correlated with emotional and instrumental social support, and lagged instrumental social support was negatively correlated with enacted stigma. Internalized stigma and emotional social support had reciprocal lagged associations.

Conclusions: Interventions to reduce enacted stigma may strengthen social support for people living with HIV. Improved social support may in turn have a protective influence against future enacted and internalized stigma.

Citing Articles

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