Does perceived caregiver HIV stigma and depression increase adolescent neuro-behavioral difficulties? A mediation analysis in the Asenze Cohort

TL;DR

This study explores how caregiver HIV stigma and depression might affect adolescent behavior, but finds no significant direct or indirect effects.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel mediation analysis linking caregiver HIV stigma and adolescent behavior through caregiver mental health.

Findings

There is a significant relationship between caregiver HIV stigma and their mental health functioning.

Neither direct nor indirect effects of HIV stigma on adolescent behavior were statistically significant.

The study highlights the need for further research on mechanisms linking stigma and health outcomes.

Abstract

People living with HIV (PLWH) often experience HIV related stigma that is, in turn, associated with several negative health outcomes including depression, harmful drinking, and intimate partner violence. Despite knowledge of these proximal impacts of HIV stigma on PLWH, less is known about the impact that Caregivers living with HIV’s perception of stigma has on the health and behavior of adolescents in their care.

Utilizing data from adolescents and their primary caregivers from the population-based Asenze cohort study in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, we conducted a path analysis to determine if caregiver depression [operationalized as mental health functioning] is a mediator of the hypothesized association between caregiver HIV stigma and adolescent neurodevelopmental behavior including internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Results suggest good model fit and a statistically significant relationship between caregiver HIV stigma and caregiver mental health functioning. However, neither the direct nor indirect (including potential mediator caregiver mental health functioning) effect of HIV stigma on adolescent behavioral difficulties was statistically significant.

This paper builds on previous research demonstrating the relationship between HIV stigma and depression, highlighting the need for continued study of underlying mechanisms that impact the stigma and health of PLWH and others important to them such as their children.

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