205964 Associations between social support, depression and mental status in two HIV+ samples from Miami and Port-au-Prince

Monday, November 9, 2009

Ghazal Soleimani, MEd , Stempel School of Public Health, AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Pradnya Khatavkar, MS, MHA , Stempel School of Public Health, AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Brenda Lerner, RN, PsyD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Michèle Jean-Gilles, PhD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Jessy G. Dévieux, PhD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Robert McMahon, PhD , Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, HI
Robert Malow, PhD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Issue: The purpose of this study was to explore linkages between perceived social resources and both depression and mental status among HIV+ individuals from Miami, Florida and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Information about linkages among these variables may yield insights into social contextual influences on mental health status of program participants.

Description: Using the Social Provision Scale (SPS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), we evaluated associations among social support, depression, and mental status within two groups(163 culturally diverse and 57 Creole-speaking-Haitian) of HIV+ individuals enrolled in Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management (CBSM) treatment interventions in Miami and Port-au-Prince.

Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine linkages among social support dimensions of attachment, integration, reassurance of worth, reliable alliance, guidance, and opportunity for nurturance and mental status in both Miami and Port-au-Prince groups. For the Miami group, the regression model was significant (R2=25, F=8.1, df (6,148),p<001. Reliable alliance and support guidance contributed most to prediction of mental status. For the Port-au-Prince group, the regression model was also significant (R2=.49,F=4.3,df (6,48),p=.002). Reassurance of self-worth contributed most to prediction. No significant associations were found between any SPS dimension of support level of depression (BDI-II) and in either group.

Conclusions/Recommendations: Meaningful associations between perceived social resources and adequacy of mental status were identified in separate samples of HIV+ individuals. Adequacy of perceived social resources may be an important indicator of quality of mental status and worthy of careful evaluation in the process of planning psychosocial interventions for HIV+ populations.

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify associations between social support, depression, and mental status for a sample of HIV+ individuals at intervention intake 2.Identify social support constructs linked with mental status 3.Describe implications for interventions aimed at this at risk population

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have had prior and current experience in analyzing and conducting research in the area of HIV+ drug abusing populations as well as HIV prevention interventions for at-risk populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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