HIV-Related Stigmatization and Medication Adherence: Indirect Effects of Disclosure Concerns and Depression

Luke D. Mitzel, Peter A. Vanable, Michael P. Carey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stigmatization due to HIV status may interfere with disease management among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) by heightening serostatus disclosure concerns and vulnerability to depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, indirect effects of disclosure concerns and depressive symptoms were examined for the association of stigma to treatment adherence (medication and clinic appointment adherence) in an outpatient sample of PLWHA. Participants (N = 179; 47% White, 41% African American; 35% MSM) completed measures of stigma-related experiences, concerns about disclosing HIV status, depression, and medication adherence; clinic appointment attendance was obtained from chart data. Stigma had an indirect effect on medication adherence (but not clinic attendance) via disclosure concerns. Stigma had indirect effects on both medication adherence and clinic attendance via depressive symptoms. In path analyses including both disclosure concerns and depressive symptoms, combined indirect effects emerged for both medication adherence and clinic attendance. There was a significant indirect pathway from stigma to disclosure concerns to depression to clinic attendance, whereas the positioning of the mediators was swapped for the significant indirect pathway from stigma to medication adherence. These analyses provide evidence that stigmatizing experiences negatively affect treatment adherence through the indirect effects of disclosure concerns and depressive symptoms. Disclosure concerns and depressive symptoms are two mechanisms worthy of further research to enhance understanding of the association between stigma and treatment adherence difficulties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)282-292
Number of pages11
JournalStigma and Health
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • adherence
  • depressive symptoms
  • disclosure concerns
  • HIV stigma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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