title: The impact of stressful life events, symptom status, and adherence concerns on quality of life in people living with HIV.
abstract: Studies concerning persons living with HIV (PLWH) report that stressful life events (SLEs) contribute to an exacerbation of symptoms and reduced antiretroviral (ARV) adherence and quality of life (QOL). Little is known about whether these findings are site-specific. Our study's aims were to characterize the type and frequency of SLEs for PLWH in Puerto Rico, South Africa, and the United States, and to assess the impact of SLEs by national site, symptoms, and ARV adherence concerns on QOL. The sample consisted of 704 participants. The total number of SLEs correlated significantly with the total number of symptoms, adherence concerns, and QOL (p ≤ .001). Overall, 27.2% of the variance in QOL was explained by the aforementioned variables. Although SLEs were of concern to PLWH, worries about ARV adherence were of even greater concern. Routine assessment of ARV concerns and SLEs can promote ongoing ARV adherence and improved QOL.
authors.forename: Inge B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Corless
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wantland
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holzemer
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jane Hamilton
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sefcik
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willard
authors.forename: Kenn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirksey
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivero Mendez
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Patrice K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Sarie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Human
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maryland
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moezzi
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cuca
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: HIV; adherence; quality of life; stressful life events; symptoms