title: HIV infection duration, social support and the level of trauma symptoms in a sample of HIV-positive Polish individuals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Management and Finance , University of Finance and Management , Warsaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rzeszutek
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oniszczenko
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Żebrowska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Firląg-Burkacka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: HIV infection duration; HIV/AIDS; PTSD symptoms; social support; trauma