title: Health Care Neglect, Perceived Discrimination, and Dignity-Related Distress Among Chinese Patients With HIV.
abstract: Dignity-related distress is overlooked in patients with HIV (PHIV). The dignity model, which elucidates the key features of dignity-related distress, has not been applied to the context of stigmatized diseases. By targeting the stigmatized disease of HIV among a Chinese sample, the present study examined the roles of health care neglect and perceived discrimination in dignity-related distress. In this cross-sectional study, 119 Chinese PHIV completed measures of dignity-related distress, psychological symptoms, physical symptoms, health care neglect, and perceived discrimination. The results showed that psychological symptoms, physical symptoms, and health care neglect not only independently predicted dignity-related distress, but also moderated with each other to show a three-way interaction. Perceived discrimination also explained the variance in dignity-related distress. Our findings contribute to the dignity model by providing evidence for factors associated with dignity-related distress, with focus on HIV. Suggestions to advocate for fair treatment for PHIV and reduce HIV-related discrimination are given.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Nancy Xiaonan
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Center on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Cecilia L W
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028723:Personhood; D011594:Psychometrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*