The status and influencing factors of posttraumatic growth among people living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Objective To understand the level of posttraumatic growth among people living with HIV/AIDS and analyze the influencing factors. Methods Totally 175 people living with HIV/AIDS were randomly selected via convenience sampling and investigated using patients′ general information, Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory(PTGI), HIV stigma scale and Social Support Rating Scale. Results The average score of PTGI among people living with HIV/AIDS was (60.76±27.03) points. Single factor analysis showed that there was a difference among people living with HIV/AIDS who had different education status, health insurance and whether to tell others HIV positive (Z=21.534, t=2.607, 3.958, P< 0.01). There was a difference between the level of social support and perceived discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS (r=0.245-0.275, P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the level of social support, perceived discrimination and whether to tell others HIV positive could affect the total score of PTGI. All the variables could explain 24.0% variance of posttraumatic growth. Conclusions People living with HIV/AIDS havemoderate posttraumatic growth. The level of social support, perceived discrimination and whether to tell others HIV positive are related to the posttraumatic growth among people living with HIV/AIDS. Key words: Acquired immunedeficiency syndrome; Posttraumatic growth