Positive future orientation as a mediator between traumatic events and mental health among children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural China.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was designed to explore the effect of future orientation in mediating the relationship between traumatic events and mental health in children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural China.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected from 1221 children affected by HIV/AIDS (755 AIDS orphans and 466 vulnerable children). Future orientation among children was measured using three indicators (future expectation, hopefulness toward the future, and perceived control over the future). Measures of mental health consisted of depression, loneliness, and self-esteem. Children's experience of any traumatic events was measured using a modified version of the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events-Student Form. Mediation analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) methods.


RESULTS
Among the children surveyed, most of the traumatic indicators were negatively associated with future expectation, hopefulness, perceived control, and self-esteem, and positively associated with depression and loneliness. The SEM of mediation analysis demonstrated an adequate fit. Future orientation fully mediated the relationship between traumatic events and mental health and accounted for 67.9% of the total effect of traumatic events on mental health.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study support the positive effect of future expectation in mediating the relationship between traumatic events and mental health among children affected by HIV/AIDS in China. Future mental health promotion and intervention efforts targeting children affected by HIV/AIDS should include components that can mitigate the negative impact of traumatic events on their lives. These components may aim to develop children's positive future expectations, increase their hopefulness toward the future, and improve their perceived control over the future.
Zhang
Jintao
J
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, China.
Zhao
Guoxiang
G
Li
Xiaoming
X
Hong
Yan
Y
Fang
Xiaoyi
X
Barnett
Douglas
D
Lin
Xiuyun
X
Zhao
Junfeng
J
Zhang
Liying
L
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012423:Rural Health; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications*