Financial strain and life satisfaction among aging Black adults with HIV

Background: The intersection of race and socioeconomic status (SES) has been studied as a mitigating factor for HIV risk. However, little research has examined the roles of race and SES on health and life satisfaction for people with HIV. There is a need to understand how limited financial resources in conjunction with psychosocial factors may impact the experience of HIV-positive racial minorities as they age.

Methods: Data analyses were conducted on the self-reports of 350 HIV-positive, New York-based Black men and women who participated in the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study. All participants were over the age of 50.

Results: Hierarchical regression analysis explained 40% of the variance in life satisfaction. Gender, an AIDS diagnosis, education, depression, perceived health and financial strain were related to life satisfaction. Furthermore, financial strain mediated the relation among emotional strain and life satisfaction.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that increased financial strain is related to less life satisfaction. Perceived financial strain maybe more relevant than SES in understanding how economic well-being is related to life satisfaction among HIV-positive older Black adults. Further research should examine if these findings are replicated among other racial groups.