Posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic depreciation among people living with HIV: the role of resilience and HIV/AIDS stigma in the person-centered approach.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) among people living with HIV (PLWH) remains an understudied and controversial topic, and several research gaps need to be filled. In our study, we focused on one such gap by implementing parallel assessment of positive (PTG) and negative changes (posttraumatic depreciation [PTD]) following trauma related to HIV diagnosis, along with measurement of resilience and HIV/AIDS stigma and socio-medical data. The study sample comprised 509 PLWH, which completed the standardized psychometric inventories measuring the study variables. The results showed an unexpected positive relationship between PTG and PTD among participants. In addition, following the person-centered approach, we observed specific PTG/PTD clusters in the study sample with different resilience and HIV/AIDS stigma levels. Our study may shed some light on understanding PTG/PTD processes among PLWH and inspire planning for effective psychological help adjusted to patients' specific needs.

Profiles of subjective well-being among people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to examine subjective well-being (SWB) profiles and their sociodemographic and clinical correlates among people living with HIV (PLWH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The participants were 663 PLWH undergoing antiretroviral treatment. Their SWB was evaluated using the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Sociodemographic and clinical covariates, together with COVID-19 distress, were assessed with a self-report survey. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis revealed four SWB profiles: average negative, average positive, flourishing and languishing. The languishing profile was the worse in terms of values of SWB components and had a relative overrepresentation of PLWH who were single, without a university degree, and not employed for money. The pandemic-related distress was positively related to being a member of average negative and languishing profiles. Gender and age had no significant effect on either profile membership or directly on the SWB components. CONCLUSION: It seems that in the context of chronic illness and socially shared stressful circumstances, which was the COVID-19 pandemic, the components of SWB among PLWH developed rather congruent profiles. Sociodemographic, but not clinical characteristics were found to be significant correlates of belonging to obtained SWB profiles in this sample. The most striking effect with this regards was obtained for the members of the languishing profile, defined by the co-occurrence of low positive affect, low satisfaction with life, and high negative affect.

Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation: Independent Correlates of Well-Being Among People Living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Although posttraumatic growth (PTG) is intuitively associated with positive adaptation to traumatic life circumstances, studies regarding the link between PTG and well-being present mixed findings. Our study aimed to analyze the link between PTG and well-being indicators (resource gain and loss, positive and negative affect; PA/NA) in a clinical sample of people living with HIV (PLWH), with the additional control of parallel negative changes among participants, i.e., posttraumatic depreciation (PTD). METHODS: The study sample comprised 509 PLWH who completed the standardized psychometric inventories measuring the study variables-PTG/PTD, resource gain and resource loss, and affective well-being. RESULTS: By applying the person-centered perspective to the study results, we observed distinct clusters of participants within resources and PA/NA, which were uniquely associated with PTG/PTD levels, after controlling for sociomedical data among participants. CONCLUSIONS: Including two parallel sides of growth, i.e., PTG and PTD, our study may deepen the understanding of PTG mechanisms and processes among PLWH and inspire planning for more effective psychological interventions designed to meet the specific needs of these patients.

Posttraumatic growth and well-being among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis in recognition of 40 years of HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize, analyze, and critically review existing studies on the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and psychological well-being (operationalized either via positive or negative well-being indicators) among people living with HIV (PLWH). We also investigated whether this association varies as a function of socio-demographic, clinical characteristics, and study publication year. METHOD: We conducted a structured literature search on Web of Science, Scopus, MedLine, PsyARTICLES, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The most important inclusion criteria encompassed quantitative and peer-reviewed articles published in English. RESULTS: After selection, we accepted 27 articles for further analysis (N = 6333 participants). Eight studies used positive indicators of well-being. The other 19 studies focused on negative indicators of well-being. Meta-analysis revealed that there was a negative weak-size association between PTG and negative well-being indicators (r = - 0.18, 95% CI [- 0.23; - 0.11]) and a positive medium-size association between PTG and positive well-being measures (r = 0.35, 95% CI [0.21; 0.47]). We detected no moderators. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis and systematic review revealed expected negative and positive associations between PTG and negative versus positive well-being indicators among PLWH. Specifically, the relationship between PTG and positive well-being indicators was more substantial than the link between PTG and negative well-being measures in these patients. Finally, observed high heterogeneity between studies and several measurement problems call for significant modification and improvement of PTG research among PLWH.

Daily emotional inertia and long-term subjective well-being among people living with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify if subjective well-being (SWB) modifies the autoregressive effect of daily emotions and if this emotional inertia predicts long-term changes in SWB among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS: The 131 participants had medically confirmed diagnoses of HIV and were undergoing antiretroviral therapy. They assessed their SWB (satisfaction with life, negative affect, positive affect) twice with an interval of one year. They also took part in a five-day online diary study six months from their baseline SWB assessment and reported their daily negative and positive emotions. RESULTS: Results showed that baseline SWB did not modify the emotional carryover effect from one to another. Additionally, after control for baseline SWB, emotional inertia did not predict SWB one year later. However, such an effect was noted for the mean values of daily reported emotions, indicating their unique predictive power over SWB itself. CONCLUSIONS: This may suggest that emotional inertia does not necessarily provide better information than more straightforward measures of affective functioning.

Comparative study of life satisfaction among patients with psoriasis versus healthy comparison group: the explanatory role of body image and resource profiles.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was first to examine the heterogeneity of body image and resources, as described by the conservation of resources theory (COR), in a sample of psoriatic patients and explore whether heterogeneity within these variables explains the possible differences in levels of life satisfaction among the participants. Second, we aimed to investigate if life satisfaction level among the observed profiles of psoriatic patients, extracted on the basis of their body image and resources, differed from that of the healthy comparison group. METHODS: The sample consisted of 735 participants, including 355 adults with a medical diagnosis of psoriasis and 380 healthy adults recruited from a non-clinical general population. Participants filled the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire and the COR evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis revealed four classes of psoriatic patients with different levels of resources and body image. The group with the highest level of resources and the most positive body image did not differ from the healthy comparison group regarding satisfaction with life. The group with the lowest level of resources and the most negative body image was characterized by the lowest satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study may change the simplifying trend that highlights the traditionally very poor well-being of psoriatic patients. Moreover, the discovery of specific profiles of these patients, which differ with regard to psychological variables, can lead to rethinking contemporary forms of psychological counselling in psoriatic patients.

Personality types and subjective well-being among people living with HIV: a latent profile analysis.

PURPOSE: We examined whether three types of personality (i.e. resilient, undercontrolled and overcontrolled) based on the Big Five personality taxonomy could be replicated among people living with HIV (PLWH). We also aimed to establish significant sociodemographic and clinical covariates of profile membership and verify whether these profiles are related to the subjective well-being (SWB) of participants. METHODS: 770 PLWH participated in this study. The Big Five personality traits were evaluated with the NEO-FFI questionnaire. SWB was operationalised by satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale) and positive and negative affects (PANAS-X). Moreover, sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis was used to identify personality types among participants. Instead of the three profiles most frequently reported in the literature, we identified a four-profile model (the resilient, undercontrolled, overcontrolled and the average profile type) as the best fit to the data. These profiles did not differ with regard to sociodemographic and clinical covariates. However, significant differences in SWB across profiles were noted, i.e. the highest SWB was observed among members of the resilient profile, and overcontrollers and undercontrollers were almost equally regarded as second best in SWB level, whereas the average profile consists of PLWH with the worst SWB. CONCLUSION: Identifying personality types in clinical settings enables more comprehensive understanding of interrelations between personality and health. Regarding PLWH, the typological approach may shed new light on ambiguous results devoted to the role of personality in well-being of these patients.

Body image, pain and level of resources among arthritis patients: the moderating role of gender.

Arthritis is a highly debilitating group of chronic diseases that affects both physical and psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between body image, subjective pain intensity and level of resources described by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory among arthritis patients. In particular, the moderating role of the participants' gender was explored via multiple linear regression analysis. 200 arthritis patients were recruited, including 141 females and 59 males. Body image was evaluated using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, subjective pain intensity was measured via the Numerical Rating Scale and level of resources was assessed using the COR evaluation questionnaire. A negative relationship was confirmed between the level of satisfaction with body image and pain intensity among participants. A positive relationship was found between body-image subscales and level of COR resources. These relationships were moderated by the participants' gender, i.e. only among males a positive association between body image and pain and, respectively, body image and resources was found. Enhancing body awareness is an essential part of psychological counselling for patients with arthritis and our study added to the literature by showing how body image may be related to pain and resources in this patient group.

Positive and Negative Affect Change among People Living with HIV: a One-Year Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the heterogeneity of changes in affective states, i.e., positive (PA) and negative (NA) affect, as well as the sociodemographic and clinical covariates of these changes among people living with HIV (PLWH) in a 1-year prospective study. METHOD: Participants were 141 ambulatory patients (15% female) with a confirmed diagnosis of HIV infection who were undergoing antiretroviral treatment. Their affective states were assessed three times, with 6-month intervals, using the positive and negative general affect scale (PANAS-X). Sociodemographic (gender, age, relationship status, education, employment) and clinical variables (CD4 count assessed via self-report, HIV/AIDS status, time since HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment duration) were also obtained. RESULTS: Heterogeneity of changes was present only for NA, whereas PA decreased gradually in the whole sample. Time since diagnosis was unrelated to baseline affect levels as well as affect level changes. Additionally, the trajectories of NA and PA were independent of each other. The significant correlates of trajectories were gender and CD4 counts, both baseline CD4 levels and CD4 changes. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the literature by describing affect changes among PLWH and identifying potential correlates of these changes, particularly CD4 count and gender. As such, these findings point to the potential clinical significance of further research on the roles of these variables.

Affective Temperaments, Mood, and Insomnia Symptoms in a Nonclinical Sample.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to understand the relationship between affective temperaments and insomnia symptoms and to examine mood state as a mediator in this relationship. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 659 adults (428 women and 231 men), aged 18-77 years old, derived from a nonclinical population. METHODS: Affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Mood was measured using the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL). Insomnia was evaluated by the Athens Insomnia Scale. RESULTS: We found positive correlations among anxious, cyclothymic, depressive, and irritable affective temperaments and insomnia symptoms. Negative correlation with insomnia symptoms was found for hyperthymic temperament. Energetic arousal and tense arousal, as mood dimensions, positively correlated with insomnia symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that anxious, cyclothymic, and hyperthymic temperaments were significant predictors of insomnia symptoms. Mediation analyses indicated that anxious, cyclothymic, and hyperthymic temperaments affected insomnia symptoms, both directly and indirectly, through energetic arousal as a mediator. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a relationship between affective temperaments and insomnia symptoms and included the role of energetic arousal, a mood state dimension, as a mediator.

Religious Fundamentalism, Satisfaction with Life and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Intensity in a Polish Sample of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

We investigated the relationship between religious fundamentalism, satisfaction with life and the intensity of posttraumatic stress symptoms in people living with HIV/AIDS. The study was conducted on 283 adults, including 242 HIV-positive patients and 41 individuals with AIDS, aged from 20 to 74. Religious fundamentalism was positively correlated with age and posttraumatic stress symptoms intensity. Negative correlation between satisfaction with life and posttraumatic stress intensity was also found. Religious fundamentalism and satisfaction with life accounted for 34% of the variance in posttraumatic stress symptoms intensity. The level of patients' education mediated the relationship between religious fundamentalism and the posttraumatic stress symptoms intensity.

Consistency of health-related quality of life among people living with HIV: Latent statetrait analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the consistency of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV (PLWH) by breaking down the variance of repeated HRQoL measures into trait, state, and method components and to test the stability of HRQoL over time. In addition, we wanted to examine whether HRQoL trait components are related to personality traits, while controlling for selected socio-medical variables. METHODS: Three assessments were performed with a six-month lag on each assessment. Each participant filled out a World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life-BREF to assess HRQoL and a NEO-FFI to measure Big Five personality traits. Overall, 82 participants out of 141 (58.2% of the initial sample) participated in all the assessments. RESULTS: The HRQoL among PLWH represented a stable trait to a somewhat greater extent than a situational variability, although the proportions were domain and time variant. More specifically, psychological domain appeared to be the most consistent, whereas social domain appeared to be the most prone to situational influences. The trait component of HRQoL was positively related to being in a relationship, being employed, and being extraverted, and negatively related to neuroticism, which altogether explained 26% of the trait variance. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL among PLWH is rather distinct from personality and socio-medical data, which indicates its uniqueness in a clinical practise. Thus, there is a need for a more comprehensive assessment of HRQoL among this patient group to capture an additional source of variance in this important theoretical construct.

Health-related quality of life and coping strategies among people living with HIV: the moderating role of gender.

The aim of the study was to explore gender differences in the level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and coping strategies among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). In particular, the moderating role of participants' gender on the relationship between coping strategies and HRQoL was explored, while controlling for socio-medical data. A total of 444 HIV-infected men and 86 HIV-infected women were recruited to participate in the study. This was a cross-sectional study with the HRQoL assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and the coping strategies measured by the Brief COPE inventory. Although the HIV-infected men and HIV-infected women differed in terms of some HRQoL domains, these differences disappeared in the regression analysis after controlling for socio-demographic data (employment and higher education). In addition, several statistically significant interactions between participants' gender and coping strategies in relation to HRQoL domains were observed. Future research on gender differences in HRQoL among PLWH should take into account unique differences between HIV-infected men and HIV-infected women across, not only in respect to socio-medical factors but also regarding psychosocial variables.

Coping profiles and subjective well-being among people living with HIV: less intensive coping corresponds with better well-being.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and subjective well-being (SWB) among people living with HIV (PLWH) using the latent profile analysis (LPA) with control for socio-medical covariates. METHODS: The sample comprised five hundred and thirty people (N = 530) with a confirmed diagnosis of HIV+. The study was cross-sectional with SWB operationalized by satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale) and positive and negative affect (PANAS-X). Coping with stress was measured by the Brief COPE Inventory, enriched by several items that assessed rumination and enhancement of positive emotional states. Additionally, the relevant socio-medical variables were collected. RESULTS: The one-step model of LPA revealed the following: (1) a solution with five different coping profiles suited the data best; (2) socio-medical covariates, except for education, were not related to the profiles' membership. Further analysis with SWB as a distal outcome showed that higher intensity coping profiles have significantly worse SWB when compared with lower intensity coping profiles. However, the lowest SWB was noted for mixed intensity coping profile (high adaptive/low maladaptive). CONCLUSIONS: The person-centered approach adopted in this study informs about the heterogeneity of disease-related coping among PLWH and its possible reactive character, as the highest SWB was observed among participants with the lowest intensity of coping.

Social support, stress coping strategies, resilience and posttraumatic growth in a Polish sample of HIV-infected individuals: results of a 1 year longitudinal study.

This study investigated the level of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its association with the level of social support, stress coping strategies and resilience among a people living with HIV (PLWH) in a 1 year longitudinal study. We also controlled for age, HIV infection duration and the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). From the 290 participants, initially eligible for the study, 110 patients were recruited for the first assessment and 73 patients participated in a follow-up assessment. Participants filled out following psychometric tools: the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), the Mini-COPE Inventory, the Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25) and the PTSD-F questionnaire. Received support and resilience were positively, whereas return to religion as coping strategy was negatively related to the PTG. Clinicians and researchers need to focus on potentially positive consequences of HIV infection, i.e. PTG, and factors that might promote it among PLWH.

Gender differences in posttraumatic stress symptoms and social support in a sample of HIV-positive individuals.

The aim of the authors of the present study was to investigate gender differences in the levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and social support in a Polish sample of HIV+ men (n = 613) and women (n = 230). This was an anonymous cross-sectional study, and participation was voluntary. The research questionnaires were distributed in paper form among patients of Warsaw's Hospital for Infectious Diseases from January to October 2015. The level of PTSS was assessed using the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory. Social support was assessed using the Berlin Social Support Scales. HIV+ women scored higher on all PTSS dimensions compared to HIV+ men. HIV+ women were characterized by a higher need for support and more support actually received compared to HIV+ men. We observed a positive association between HIV infection duration and AIDS phase and the global trauma score only among HIV+ men. The moderation analysis also revealed a positive relationship between actual received support and the global trauma score among HIV+ women only. Increased clinician awareness is needed about the role of PTSS and social support among people living with HIV, especially taking gender differences into account.

Stress coping strategies, spirituality, social support and posttraumatic growth in a Polish sample of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The aim of this study was to explore the level of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its relationship to the level of stress coping strategies, spirituality and social support among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (n = 250). The level of PTG was measured by the Polish adaptation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Stress coping strategies were evaluated by the Polish adaptation of the Mini-COPE Inventory. Spirituality was measured by the Self-Description Questionnaire. Social support was assessed with the Berlin Social Support Scales. Stress coping strategies (return to religion, acceptance), spirituality and social support (need for support) were significantly related to the level of PTG among participants. Despite evidence of a beneficial relationship between PTG and the course of RA, little empirical attention has been paid to the factors associated with PTG among this patient group. Given the substantial health-related benefits associated with PTG among RA patients, it is important to further explore the phenomena of PTG among RA patients.

Gender differences in posttraumatic stress symptoms and the level of posttraumatic growth among a Polish sample of HIV-positive individuals.

The main goal of the current study was to investigate gender differences in the relationship between the level of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and the intensity of posttraumatic growth (PTG), treated as the explained variable, among a Polish sample of HIV-positive individuals (n = 250) while controlling for participants' ages and time since HIV diagnosis. The level of PTG was measured using the Polish adaptation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. The level of PTSSs was assessed using the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory. HIV-positive women scored higher for some PTSSs (intrusion/arousal) and for a particular PTG dimension (spiritual change). In addition, the PTSSs that occurred were negatively related to the PTG level but only among HIV-positive women. Given the important health-related benefits associated with PTG among HIV-positive people, it is vital to shape competencies for effective growth promotion among these individuals, taking into account gender differences within this phenomenon.

Sex differences in trauma symptoms, body image and intensity of pain in a Polish sample of patients suffering from chronic pain.

The main goal of the current study was to investigate sex differences in the relationship between the level of trauma symptoms appearing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intensity of pain in a sample of 300 Polish patients suffering from chronic pain, specifically rheumatoid arthritis and lower back pain. We also focused on participants' body image with body esteem as a mediator. To assess the intensity of pain among participants, we used the Numerical Rating Scale. The level of trauma symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory. To measure body image among participants, we used the Body Esteem Scale. The results of our study suggest that trauma symptoms and body image dimensions were significant predictors of pain intensity among men suffering from chronic pain. Moreover, trauma symptoms and age were significant predictors of pain intensity among women suffering from chronic pain. Finally, we demonstrated that sex differentiates the reaction to chronic pain.

HIV infection duration, social support and the level of trauma symptoms in a sample of HIV-positive Polish individuals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the average HIV infection duration and the level of quantitatively rated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and social support dimensions in a sample of 562 Polish HIV+ adults. Possible moderating effects of social support on the relationship between the average HIV infection duration and the level of PTSD symptoms were also analysed. The results of this study suggest that the average HIV infection duration may intensify PTSD symptoms and deteriorate the perceived availability of social support in HIV+ individuals. However, a positive relationship between HIV infection duration and the level of trauma symptoms was observed only in the group of HIV+ individuals with low perceived available social support, but not in the group of HIV-infected individuals with high perceived available social support. This research provided some new insight into the psychological and social aspects of living with HIV. In particular, our results suggest that although HIV infection duration may intensify trauma symptoms and deteriorate social support, perceived available social support may act as a buffer against HIV-related trauma symptoms.