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Roles of Self-Stigma, Social Support, and Positive and Negative Affects as Determinants of Depressive Symptoms Among HIV Infected Men who have Sex with Men in China

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Abstract

Poor mental health was prevalent among HIV positive men who have sex with men (HIVMSM), and a tremendous burden extents on their families and society. The present study investigated the prevalence of depression and its relationship with social support, HIV self-stigma, positive affect and negative affect among 321 HIVMSM in Chengdu, China. The study was conducted during July 2013 through October 2013. Findings showed that 55.8 % of the participants had mild to severe depression. The results of structural equation modeling showed that social support and positive affect were negatively associated with depression, while HIV self-stigma and negative affect were positively associated with depression. Social support, positive affect, and negative affect mediated the association between HIV self-stigma and depression. The hypothesized model had a satisfactory fit. Interventions improving mental health among this population are warranted.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a 2013 international developmental grant from the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (P30AI042853) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81302479). We thank the local NGO, Chengdu Tongle Health Counseling Service Center for its support. Our thanks also extend to all participants who have taken part in this study and all research assistances for their support on data collection. We thank Professor Winnie W.S. MAK and Ms. Sherry Xue YANG for assistance with statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Behavioral Health and Health Promotion, The School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Jinghua Li, Phoenix K. H. Mo & Joseph T. F. Lau

  2. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China

    Phoenix K. H. Mo & Joseph T. F. Lau

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China

    Anise M. S. Wu

  4. Centre for Medical Anthropology and Behavioral Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Joseph T. F. Lau

  5. Centre for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Joseph T. F. Lau

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  1. Jinghua Li
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Li, J., Mo, P.K.H., Wu, A.M.S. et al. Roles of Self-Stigma, Social Support, and Positive and Negative Affects as Determinants of Depressive Symptoms Among HIV Infected Men who have Sex with Men in China. AIDS Behav 21, 261–273 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1321-1

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