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Examining the Additive Effect of HIV-Related Stress and General Life Stress on Depression and Anxiety-Related Functional Impairment Among HIV-Positive Sexual Minority Men

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Abstract

Background

General life stress and HIV-related stress have been independently associated with negative mental health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), including anxiety and depression. HIV-positive sexual minority men (SMM) may experience both forms of stress, resulting in concurrent effects that independently exacerbate functional impairment related to anxiety and depression.

Methods

This study examined general life stress, HIV-related stress, and functional impairment due to depression and anxiety in a sample of 87 HIV-positive SMM. Data were collected in late 2015 and early 2016. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), HIV/AIDS Stress Scale (HASS), Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale, and Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale were used.

Results

Each variable was positively correlated with each other in bivariate analyses, but in multivariable models, PSS (β = .53, p < .001) and HASS (β = .27, p < .05) scores were both positively and independently associated with anxiety-related functional impairment. PSS was positively associated with depression-related functional impairment (β = .64, p < .001), but HASS did not maintain a significant independent association with this outcome (β = .00, p = .99).

Conclusion

These findings support an association between combined stress and negative mental health outcomes among HIV-positive SMM.

Policy Implications

Our findings support the idea for researchers and clinicians to be mindful of additional sources of stress and associations with mental health when developing interventions to promote better physical and mental health for this population.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the mentorship team on this K01 award: Dr. Jeffrey Parsons, Dr. John Pachankis, Dr. Steven Safren, Dr. Sarah Feldstein Ewing, Dr. Christina Meade, and Dr. Brian Mustanski. The authors and co-authors also acknowledge the contributions of all staff who contributed to the study, in particular Ruben Jimenez, Douglas Keeler, Chloe Mirzayi, Laurie Spacek, Darren Agboh, Evie Arroyo, Juan Castiblanco, and Brian Salfas, as well as our team of recruiters and interns. Finally, we thank the participants who volunteered their time and experiences.

Funding

Funding was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Award: K01-DA039030; H. Jonathon Rendina, Principal Investigator).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA

    Jonathan López-Matos, Laurel Weaver, Brett M. Millar, Ali Talan, Sitaji Gurung & H. Jonathon Rendina

  2. Health Psychology and Clinical Science Doctoral Program, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA

    Jonathan López-Matos, Laurel Weaver & H. Jonathon Rendina

  3. Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, The City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA

    Sitaji Gurung

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  1. Jonathan López-Matos
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  2. Laurel Weaver
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Correspondence to H. Jonathon Rendina.

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All participants provided informed consent to participate, and procedures were reviewed by the Institutional Review Board at City University of New York—Hunter College.

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López-Matos, J., Weaver, L., Millar, B.M. et al. Examining the Additive Effect of HIV-Related Stress and General Life Stress on Depression and Anxiety-Related Functional Impairment Among HIV-Positive Sexual Minority Men. Sex Res Soc Policy 19, 1130–1138 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00610-w

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