Investigating the Moderating Effect of HIV Status Disclosure on the Link Between Discrimination Experience and Psychological Distress Among People Living with HIV in Japan Infected Through Sexual Contact

TL;DR

This study explores how disclosing HIV status to friends and family can reduce psychological distress caused by discrimination among people living with HIV in Japan.

Contribution

The study identifies HIV status disclosure as a potential moderator of the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress in Japan.

Findings

12.7% of respondents experienced HIV-related discrimination recently.

Discrimination was independently linked to high psychological distress (adjusted OR 2.02).

Disclosure to friends reduced the distress caused by discrimination (regression coefficient −3.115).

Abstract

There is a scarcity of research on the potential impact of disclosing HIV status to friends and family in moderating the adverse effects of discrimination on the mental health of people living with HIV (PLWH). This study assessed the experiences of discrimination and HIV status disclosure among PLWH in Japan, and evaluated their potential associations with psychological distress.

Data were derived from a nationwide cross-sectional survey of PLWH conducted in Japan between 2019 and 2020. The interaction effects of HIV-related discrimination and HIV status disclosure on the psychological distress were examined using logistic and linear regression analyses.

The median age of the 804 respondents was 46 years old. Most respondents were male and 85.4% (687/804) identified as homosexuals or bisexuals. A total of 12.7% (102/804) of the respondents reported that they had recently experienced discrimination because of their HIV status. Experience of HIV-related discrimination was independently associated with high psychological distress (adjusted OR 2.02; 95% CI, 1.15–3.57), and HIV status disclosure to friends partially weakened the association between discrimination and the level of psychological distress (regression coefficient −3.115; p = 0.004).

While measures that aim to end discrimination remain vital, increasing the opportunities of PLWH to communicate with friends they feel comfortable disclosing their HIV status may also be helpful in protecting their mental health.