The impact of HIV-related stigma on older and younger adults living with HIV disease

Does age matter

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19440581
AutoresCharles A Emlet (0000-0002-4992-2669, autor de correspondencia), David J Brennan (0000-0002-7663-9869, University of Toronto), Sarah Brennenstuhl (0000-0002-2538-582X, Public Health Ontario), Salvador Rueda (0000-0002-0654-6421, Ontario HIV Treatment Network), Sergio Rueda, Trevor A Hart (0000-0002-0254-4787), Trevor Hart (0000-0001-5107-7452, Toronto Metropolitan University), Sean B Rourke (0000-0001-6162-7358, Ontario HIV Treatment Network)
Año2015
Volumen27
Número4
Páginas520-528
Fecha de publicación2015-04-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2014.978734
PMID25397643
OpenAlexW2139650659
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas43
Referencias citadas37

The purpose of this study was to examine the independent influence of age on levels of HIV-related stigma experienced by adults living with HIV/AIDS. To accomplish this, cross-sectional data from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study were used to determine whether older age is associated with overall stigma among HIV-positive adults living in Ontario, Canada (n = 960). The relationship was also tested for enacted, anticipated, and internalized stigma. Covariates included sociodemographic (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, race) and psychosocial variables (e.g., depression). Modifying effects of covariates were also investigated. Those 55 and older have significantly lower overall and internalized stigma than adults under age 40, even when accounting for gender, sexual orientation, income, time since diagnosis, depression, maladaptive coping, and social support. Age does not predict enacted or Anticipated Stigma when accounting for the demographic and psychosocial variables. A significant interaction between depression and age suggests that stigma declines with age among those who are depressed but increases to age 50 and then decreases in older age groups among those who are not depressed. Age matters when it comes to understanding stigma among adults living with HIV/AIDS; however, the relationship between age and stigma is complex, varying according to stigma type and depression level

Cohort · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Sexual orientation · Social support · Clinical Psychology · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology