title: Dyadic Effects of Stigma and Discrimination on Distress in Chinese HIV Discordant Couples.
abstract: The present study investigated the dyadic effects of stigma and discrimination on distress in Chinese couples affected by HIV. Chinese people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their seronegative spouses (N = 119 couples) participated in this study. The PLHIV completed measures on stigma beliefs about being better off dead and dignity-related distress. The spouses completed measures on perceived discrimination and exclusion and caregiver distress. The results showed that there was no significant correlation between the PLHIV's stigma beliefs and the spouses' perceived discrimination and exclusion. The couples showed significant associations in their dignity-related distress and caregiver distress. Analyses using the actor-partner interdependence model showed that PLHIV's stigma beliefs and the spouses' perceived discrimination and exclusion both had significant actor and partner effects on distress within the dyad. Psychosocial interventions aiming for distress reduction in the context of HIV should tackle stigma and discrimination and target the couples rather than solely the patient or spouse.
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: 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
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D028723:Personhood; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*