Role of hardiness, perceived social support, coping style on quality of life in HIV-infected adults.

Abstract

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) weakens the immune system by targeting helper T cells, spreading through bodily fluids like blood and semen. HIV progresses to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), where the immune system is severely damaged. Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) is essential for managing HIV, improving quality of life and reducing transmission risks. Living with HIV brings physical, psychological, and social challenges, including stigma and discrimination. Quality of life (QoL) for HIV patients depends on physical health, ART, social support, and coping strategies. This study investigates how hardiness, perceived social support, and coping style impact the QoL of HIV-infected adults, alongside sociodemographic and infection-related factors. This study used a correlational and predictive cross-sectional design with a sample of 441 HIV-infected adults, aged 20-60, from registered NGOs across various districts in Kerala. Informed consent was obtained, ensuring voluntary participation. Four psychometric tools were used: the WHOQOL-HIV BREF, Singh Psychological Hardiness Scale, MSPSS, and Brief COPE. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression, with normality assessed via the Kolmogorov- Smirnov test. The findings highlight significant differences in hardiness, social support, coping styles, and quality of life (QoL) among HIV-infected adults across sociodemographic and infection-related factors. Hardiness positively relates to physical, psychological, independence, and spiritual QoL but does not predict social or environmental QoL. Social support correlates with all QoL domains but does not predict physical or spiritual QoL. Various coping styles correlate differently with QoL, with some negatively affecting spiritual QoL. Sociodemographic factors negatively predict psychological, independence, social, and environmental QoL but positively predict spiritual QoL. To enhance QoL, interventions should strengthen social support networks, provide training on adaptive coping while addressing maladaptive strategies like substance use, and adopt holistic approaches to resilience. Individualized care plans are recommended due to the complex interplay of coping styles and other predictors across QoL domains.