Psychological Distress, Anxiety, Depression, Stress Level, and Coping Style in HIV-pregnant Women in Mexico

Overview

Journal BMC Psychol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Psychology

Date 2023 Nov 2

PMID 37915068

Authors

Maria Del Pilar Meza-Rodriguez

Blanca Farfan-Labonne

Miroslava Avila-Garcia

Ricardo Figueroa-Damian

Noemi Plazola-Camacho

Gabriela Pellon-Diaz

Braulio Alfonso Rios-Flores

Efrain Olivas-Pena

Phillipe Leff-Gelman

Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the presence of psychological distress (PD) and its association with the mental health and coping styles of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH).

Method: An observational, cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. Seventy-three PWLWH were included. Patients responded to a psychometric battery for PD, depression, anxiety, stress, and coping style evaluation. The scales used in the study were: Goldberg's 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Zung Depression Self-Measurement Scale (ZDS), Nowack Stress Profile, Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Styles Questionnaire.

Results: PD was observed in 31.5% of the participants. PD-positive patients showed a higher probability of presenting traits of depression and anxiety and medium/high stress levels. Besides, they preferentially used emotion-focused coping styles.

Conclusion: PD is associated with a higher probability of presenting anxiety and depression in PWLWH. Emotion-focused coping style could be a factor in decision-making associated with risk behaviors in PWLWH.

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