A path analysis of impacts of social support and rumination on posttraumatic growth of patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of social support and rumination on posttraumatic growth of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods A total of 1 152 patients with HIV from Shanghai Public Clinical Center were investigated using General questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Event Related Rumination Inventory and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory by cross-sectional survey method from January 2018 to October 2018. The path of social support and rumination on post-traumatic growth was established by correlation analysis and structural equation model. Results The total score of posttraumatic growth in patients with HIV was (47.93±23.55) points, which was at the low-middle level. Correlation analysis showed that posttraumatic growth was positively correlated with comprehension of social support (r=0.234, P<0.01), positively correlated with rumination (r=0.352, P<0.01). Structural equation model showed social support had directly positive effect on posttraumatic growth, path coefficient were 0.55. Rumination had a partial mediating effect between social support and posttraumatic growth, and mediation effects account for 11.65% of the total effect. Conclusions The posttraumatic growth level of patients with HIV needs to be improved. Health care providers should help patients get as high a level of social support as possible, as well as focus on guiding patients to think positive about the disease. Key words: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Posttraumatic growth; Social support; Rumination; Path analysis