The relationship between social support and suicidal ideation among newly diagnosed people living with HIV: the mediating role of HIV-related stress

Fengying Bi, Dan Luo, Yunxiang Huang, Xi Chen, Dexing Zhang, Shuiyuan Xiao

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evidence have consistently shown social support to be protective against suicidal ideation among people living with HIV (PLWH), but little is known how social support protects PLHW from suicidal ideation. We aimed to explore whether social support could reduce suicidal ideation by reducing HIV-related stress levels or depression among PLWH during the early post-diagnosis phase. A cross-sectional study of 557 newly diagnosed PLWH was conducted. Information on suicidal ideation, social support, HIV-related stress and depression was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) analyses were performed to determine the mediating effect of HIV-related stress and depression on the relationship between social support and suicidal ideation. One-fourth of participants reported considering suicide after HIV diagnosis. Higher social support could prevent PLWH from suicidal ideation directly or indirectly via reducing the HIV-related stress levels. The mediating effect of depression, as well as the chain mediating effect of HIV-related stress and depression were not found. Enhancing social support and reducing HIV-related stress are important to prevent suicide among PLWH.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)724-734
Number of pages11
JournalPsychology, Health and Medicine
Volume26
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • depression
  • HIV-related stress
  • newly diagnosed people living with HIV
  • social support
  • Suicidal ideation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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