title: Associations between perceived HIV stigma and quality of life at the dyadic level: the actor-partner interdependence model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have investigated the relationship between HIV-related stigma and quality life at the dyadic level. The objective of this study was to examine the actor and partner effects of stigma that was perceived by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and caregivers on quality of life at the dyadic level.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among 148 dyads consisting of one PLWHA and one caregiver (296 participants) in Nanning, China. The interdependent relationship between a pair of dyadic members that influences the associations between stigma and quality of life was analyzed, using an innovative dyadic analysis technique: the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found in this dyadic analysis that (1) PLWHAs compared to their caregivers exhibited a higher level of perceived HIV stigma and lower level of quality of life measured in four domains; (2) both PLWHAs' and caregivers' perceived HIV stigma influenced their own quality of life; (3) The quality of life was not substantially influenced by their partners' perceived stigma; and (4) Both actor and partner effects of stigma on quality of life were similar among PLWHAs and their caregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As HIV stigma and quality of life are complex phenomena rooted in cultures, intervention programs should be carefully planned based on social or cognitive theories and should be culturally adopted.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America. hliu1210@umd.edu
authors: Hongjie
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Yongfang
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Xinjin
authors: X
authors: Lin
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Shi
authors: Shiyi
authors: S
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma
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