Social Support as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Stigma and Mental Health in Adults Living with HIV

Henry Santa-Cruz-Espinoza (), Julio Domínguez-Vergara, Natalia Mavila Guzmán-Rodríguez, Janeth Molina-Alvarado, Jennifer Castañeda-Paredes and Gina Chávez-Ventura
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Henry Santa-Cruz-Espinoza: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Lima 15842, Peru
Julio Domínguez-Vergara: Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Lima 15046, Peru
Natalia Mavila Guzmán-Rodríguez: Escuela de Psicología, Institutos y Centros de Investigación, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13009, Peru
Janeth Molina-Alvarado: Escuela de Psicología, Institutos y Centros de Investigación, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13009, Peru
Jennifer Castañeda-Paredes: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Lima 15842, Peru
Gina Chávez-Ventura: Escuela de Psicología, Institutos y Centros de Investigación, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13009, Peru

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Exposure to HIV-related stigma and mental health problems have both been reported by HIV-positive individuals. We analyzed the role of social support as a mediator in the relationship between HIV-associated stigma and mental health among adults living with HIV. A total of 303 people aged 18 years and over (M = 40.5; SD = 11.2) with an HIV diagnosis who were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method in Trujillo, Peru, participated in this study. The Macro PROCESS program for SPSS was used for data analysis. We found that stigma exerts an indirect effect on the mental health among adults living with HIV, mediated through social support (β = −0.05, SE = 0.02; 95% CI [−0.09; −0.02]). However, stigma does not exert a direct effect on mental health (β = −0.08; p = 0.21). It is concluded that social support negatively and fully mediates the relationship between HIV-linked stigma and mental health among adults living with HIV. A higher stigma was associated with lower social support, and lower social support negatively affects mental health. For this reason, strengthening social support networks in adults with HIV may have a positive impact on public health.

Keywords: HIV seroprevalence; mediation analysis; human health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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