The Relationships Between Internalized Stigma, Depression, andHealth-Related Quality of Life in Individuals Living with HIV.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between internalized stigma (IS) and depression, and treatment adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in people living with HIV.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 75 consecutive individuals living with HIV who had been diagnosed at least three months prior and volunteered to participate. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Modified Morisky Treatment Adherence Scale, and the Short Form-36/HRQL Scale. Relationships between variables were evaluated using correlation analyses. Variables affecting the HRQL subscales were examined using multiple linear regression analyses. Statistical significance was considered achieved when p<0.05.

Results: IS showed significant positive correlations with depressive symptoms (p = 0.003), and significant negative correlations with social functioning and pain. The BDI score was found to be significantly and negatively associated with all subscales of HRQL (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analyses, the BDI was identified as a significant predictor of all quality of life subscales (p ≤ 0.01), while IS was not a direct significant predictor (p>0.05). Further analysis using the bootstrap method revealed that the relationships between the IS and HRQL subscales were statistically significant, along with the level of depression.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a strong and consistent association between depression levels and HRQL in individuals living with HIV. Although IS was not directly related to quality of life, it showed a significant pattern when considered in conjunction with depression levels. The findings highlight the importance of considering psychological symptoms and stigma experiences in the clinical follow-up of individuals living with HIV.