Abstract
ABSTRACT HIV-related stigma has negatively impacted the psychosocial well-being of children who have been orphaned by AIDS-related causes. Response to reducing stigma and ensuring child well-being is hindered by the limited understanding of HIV-related stigma and how it affects the psychosocial well-being of children. Due to the call for a comprehensive understanding of HIV-related stigma, this study aimed to develop a model to understand the manner in which HIV-related stigma affects the psychosocial well-being of children orphaned by AIDS. The study implemented a mixed method, exploratory, sequential design within a theory generative approach that included concept development, statement development, model description, and model evaluation. The developed model indicated that HIV-related stigma is embedded in social interaction and mediated by children orphaned by AIDS response to stigma. HIV-related stigma and maladaptive coping strategies collectively affect several domains of child psychosocial well-being and elevate psychosocial distress. This is the first model to provide a child-centred understanding of HIV-related stigma and its consequences for psychosocial well-being. The model may be used to guide future research and inform the development of appropriate interventions.
Highlights
Stigma has been recognised as a key driver of the human immunodeficiency virus and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic (Treves-Kagan et al, 2015)
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are likely to be subjected to experiences of HIV-related stigma, including prejudicial actions received from family members, colleagues, employers, health care providers, communities, and governments (Dahlui et al, 2015)
The social transactional model of HIV-related stigma and the psychosocial well-being of COA provide an understanding of the manner in which HIV-related stigma affects the psychosocial well-being of COA
Summary
Stigma has been recognised as a key driver of the human immunodeficiency virus and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic (Treves-Kagan et al, 2015). While there remains little consensus among scholars for defining the term psychosocial well-being, a holistic definition was provided by Fujishima-Hachiya and Inoue (2012), who define psychosocial well-being as the amalgamation of psychological and social well-being, encompassing well-being to include social inclusion and resilience, that reflects an individual’s thoughts, behaviours and reactions to the social environment This conceptual definition is consistent with the measures used in several studies focusing on orphaned children and HIV/AIDS to determine psychosocial well-being and the related concepts identified following the findings of the current study.
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