The psychological and social support status of people living with HIV/AIDS in Wuxi

Objective To investigate the psychological and the social support status of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and to analyze factors which influenced their psychological and social support status in Wuxi. Methods A total of 110 people diagnosed with HIV-positive were recruited in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire which included 90 Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) was answered by participants. Results The number of SCL-90 screening positive participants was 66(60.00%), and the total and subscale mean scores were higher than those of norm of China (all P<0.001). Social support total and subscale scores were less than those of norm of China (all P<0.05). And the subjective score had difference in different ages and marital status (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis found that total social support score was negatively correlated with total and subscale mean scores except the mean scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive and others (all P<0.05); objective support score was negatively correlated with total mean score and subscale mean scores of interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety and phobic anxiety (all P<0.05); subjective support score was negatively correlated with total mean score and subscale mean scores of interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, anger/hostility, paranoid ideation and psychoticism (all P<0.05); there was no significant correlation between the utilization of supports and all mean scores on the SCL-90 (all P>0.05). Conclusions There are many psychological problems among people living with HIV/AIDS in Wuxi, and their social support total and subscale scores were generally low. They should experience more mental health counseling and psychological services, and be given more social support, especially objective support and subjective support.