Self-esteem and antiretroviral therapy adherence among young people living with HIV: An exploratory serial mediation analysis

• Published in: South African Journal of Science 2021-11, Vol.117 (11-12), p.124-130
• Main Authors: Nyamaruze, Patrick, Govender, Kaymarlin, Cowden, Richard G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescents; AIDS; Alcohol; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Body image; body perceptions; Drug therapy; HIV; HIV/ AIDS stigma; Human immunodeficiency virus; Medication Adherence; Patient compliance; Perceptions; Psychological factors; Self esteem; Self image; Stigma; Young adults
• ISSN: 0038-2353; 1996-7489
• DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2021/8354

Capitalising fur ther on the benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for individual treatment requires an improved understanding of the psychological processes that may affect optimal ART adherence among people living with HIV. We examined internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation as mediators of the association between self-esteem and ART adherence among young people living with HIV (YPLHIV). A sample of 76 YPLHIV (Mage = 19.36, s.d.age = 2.56; male 56.58%) residing in an HIV hyperendemic region of South Africa completed self-repor t measures of self-esteem, internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma, body appreciation, and ART adherence. Path-analytic mediation modelling was performed to test for direct and indirect effects linking self-esteem with ART adherence. Results of serial mediation analyses indicated that self-esteem and ART adherence were indirectly associated through a two-step path of internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and then body appreciation, as well as a one-step path through internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma. The results provide preliminary suppor t for internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation as mechanisms underlying the association between self-esteem and ART adherence. Implications of the findings for promoting ART adherence among YPLHIV are discussed.Significance: • Self-esteem and ART adherence were indirectly related through internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma followed by body appreciation. • Outcomes of intervention initiatives designed to promote ART adherence among young people living with HIV may be further improved by integrating components that target internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation.