Social support and social undermining as explanatory factors for health-related quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS

J Health Commun. 2014;19(6):660-75. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2013.837555. Epub 2014 Jan 30.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the influence of social support (from personal networks and health care providers) and social undermining (from personal networks) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL; general health perceptions, physical functioning, and depression). Specifically, the authors aimed to identify the nature of the effects (direct, mediating, or moderating) of social support and social undermining on HRQOL. A total of 344 people living with HIV/AIDS and who were patients in a federally funded clinic in New Mexico completed a self-report survey questionnaire. The major findings of this study are the following: (a) social support and social undermining had direct and indirect effects on HRQOL-there was no evidence of a moderating effect of social support and social undermining; (b) for direct effects, social undermining was a stronger predictor of HRQOL than social support with social support variables having positive relations and social undermining variables having negative relations with HRQOL; and (c) for indirect effects, providers' social support partially mediated the influence of unstable employment/unemployment and social undermining on HRQOL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Financing, Government
  • Focus Groups
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • HIV Infections / therapy
  • Health Facilities / economics
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New Mexico
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Social Support*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires