Determinants of psychological well-being of people with HIV: Assessing the role of stigma and social support

Context and relevance. The article presents an overview of contemporary international research on stigmatization of people with HIV infection and social support of HIV-infected people as determinants of psychological well-being of people with HIV infection. The article describes international experience in studying stigma of people with HIV, identifying three subcategories of stigma: social stigma (related to prejudice against people with HIV infection), health professionals’ stigma (prejudice and discrimination against patients diagnosed with HIV infection by health care providers) and self-stigma (negative beliefs and feelings, self-depreciation due to HIV diagnosis). Educational interventions to reduce HIV stigma are described. The role of social support in the psychological well-being of people with HIV is explored. Research on the psychological well-being of people living with HIV is presented. The concept of long-term success, developed by international researchers to improve long-term well-being among people living with HIV, is described. Objective. To analyze the understanding of the role of stigmatization and social support in the psychological well-being of HIV-infected people by modern foreign researchers. Conclusions. Stigmatization of HIV-infected people negatively affects their psychological well-being, while social support reduces the level of stigmatization in HIV-infected patients and increases their psychological well-being. Further studies of the determinants of psychological well-being of HIV-infected people in Russian-speaking samples are promising for further research. The data presented in this article can be used in planning research aimed at studying stigma, social support and psychological well-being among people with HIV.

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