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Subjective Well-Being Among HIV-Positive South Africans: The Influence of Resilience and Social Capital

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Abstract

Living with HIV in a context of adversity may impact on a person’s sense of well-being. Little is however known about factors associated with subjective well-being (SWB) among persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the relationship between SWB, resilience and social capital. Participants were 263 HIV-positive, black South Africans living in poverty. Data were collected using three questionnaires measuring resilience, social capital and SWB, and analyzed using correlations and multiple regressions. The results showed that for all participants, SWB was associated with household income, the resilience factor being able to plan for the future, the social capital factors trust, reciprocity, solidarity, collective action, and perceived support and close ties to family and people of different religious groups. However, household income, resilience as a whole and the social capital factors reciprocity, solidarity and perceived support did not account for the any significant variation in SWB. For women, SWB was related to low collective action, having contacts of different religions and being able to plan for the future. For men, SWB was related to low trust in neighbors and being able to plan for the future. In conclusion, this indicates that what matters in terms of SWB among these PLWHAs is who and how they trust and relate to at a community level. It is proposed that through factors of social capital, HIV-positive persons living in contexts of adversity can secure access to resources and social support that are important for their sense of well-being.

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Acknowledgments

Our gratitude goes to the women and men who took part in the study. This research was supported by a grant from the SOUTHAFRICA programme, project number 180309, jointly administered by the Research Council of Norway and the National Research Foundation, South Africa. The authors would like to thank the Treatment Action Campaign for their collaboration and contact with support groups. We are grateful to the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) for hosting AAG and WD during the two months of field work. We acknowledge the competent advice from Professor Yvonne Sliep and Dr. Olagoke Akintola at UKZN. Mr. Wellington Mthokozisi Hlwengwa deserves special thanks for his skilful interpretation and translation of the questionnaires into isiZulu.

The research protocol was cleared by The National Committees for Research Ethics in Norway and by the Research Office, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Anette Arnesen Grønlie & Wenche Dageid

  2. The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development, P.O. Box 7053, Majorstuen, 0306, Oslo, Norway

    Anette Arnesen Grønlie

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  1. Anette Arnesen Grønlie
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Correspondence to Wenche Dageid.

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Grønlie, A.A., Dageid, W. Subjective Well-Being Among HIV-Positive South Africans: The Influence of Resilience and Social Capital. Soc Indic Res 131, 1251–1268 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1280-y

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