Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Perceived social support, hope, and quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS: a case study from Nepal

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship among perceived satisfaction from social support, hope, and QOL of PLWHA.

Method

A cross-sectional in design was applied, among a sample of 160 HIV-infected persons receiving treatment, care, and support from eight community-based NGOs. QOL was assessed using the WHO (QOL)-26 tool, and social support was assessed by use of a modified Sarason’s Social Support Questionnaire. A Hope Assessment Scale was also developed.

Results

The non-family support network was greater than family support network. Overall satisfaction from social support and hope was significantly correlated with QOL; the greatest effect of social support was on environmental functioning, and the lowest was on social relationships, emotional support was less a predictor of social relationship than other types of supports.

Conclusion

The effect of perceived satisfaction from social support was through the mediation variable hope. As it has widely been recognized that community-based support is vital for issues of quality of life, strategies to improve social support and hope intervention programs are strongly encouraged. The results of the study have implications for providing care, treatment, and psycho-social support to maintain or enhance quality of life of PLWHA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Akinsola, H. A. (2001). Fostering hope in people living with AIDS in Africa: The role of primary health-care workers [review]. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 9(4), 158–165.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Andrews, S. (1995). Social support as a stress buffer among human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive urban mothers [case reports]. Holistic Nursing Practice, 10(1), 36–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort, C. (2008). Life expectancy of individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy in high-income countries: A collaborative analysis of 14 cohort studies [research support, non-US Gov’t]. Lancet, 372(9635), 293–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ashton, E., Vosvick, M., Chesney, M., Gore-Felton, C., Koopman, C., O’Shea, K., et al. (2005). Social support and maladaptive coping as predictors of the change in physical health symptoms among persons living with HIV/AIDS [article]. Aids Patient Care and STDs, 19(9), 587–598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Barroso, J. (1997). Social support and long-term survivors of AIDS [article]. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 19(5), 554–573.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bastardo, Y. M., & Kimberlin, C. L. (2000). Relationship between quality of life, social support and disease-related factors in HIV-infected persons in Venezuela. Aids Care-Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of Aids/Hiv, 12(5), 673–684.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Beine, D. K. (2003). Ensnared by AIDS: Cultural contexts of HIV/AIDS in Nepal (p. 411). Kantipath, Kathmandu, Nepal: Mandala Book Point.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bernays, S., Rhodes, T., & Barnett, T. (2007). Hope: A new way to look at the HIV epidemic [article]. Aids, 21, S5–S11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Brashers, D. E. (2002). Belonging to AIDS activist group helps HIV + to cope. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 113–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Caplan, G. (1974). Support systems and community mental health. New York: Behavioral Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chammas, G. Y. (1999). Hope, functional status, and quality of life in hospitalized patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (doctoral dissertation, Columbia University Teachers College, 1999). Dissertation Abstracts International, 60(03), 1027B (UMI No. 9921384).

  12. Chesney, M. A., Chambers, D. B., Taylor, J. M., & Johnson, L. M. (2003). Social support, distress, and well-being in older men living with HIV infection [article]. Jaids-Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 33, S185–S193.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Crystal, S., & Kersting, R. C. (1998). Stress, social support, and distress in a statewide population of persons with AIDS in New Jersey [article]. Social Work in Health Care, 28(1), 41–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Cutcliffe, J. R. (1995). How do nurses inspire and instill hope in terminally ill HIV patients [article]. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 22(5), 888–895.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Durkheim, E. (1984). The division of labor in society. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Friedland, J., Renwick, R., & McColl, M. M. (1996). Coping and social support as determinants of quality of life in HIV/AIDS [article]. Aids Care-Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of Aids/Hiv, 8(1), 15–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Galvan, F. H., Davis, E. M., Banks, D., & Bing, E. G. (2008). HIV stigma and social support among African Americans [research support, N.I.H., extramural; research support, non-US gov’t]. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 22(5), 423–436.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gant, L. M., & Ostrow, D. G. (1995). Perceptions of social support and psychological adaptation to sexually acquired HIV among white and African-American men [article]. Social Work, 40(2), 215–224.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gottlieb, B. H. (1983). Social support strategies: Guidelines for mental health practice. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Greenberger, E., Chen, C. S., Tally, S. R., & Dong, Q. (2000). Family, peer, and individual correlates of depressive symptomatology among US and Chinese adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(2), 209–219.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hall, B. A. (1994). Ways of maintaining hope in HIV disease.

  22. Harris, G. E., & Larsen, D. (2007). HIV peer counseling and the development of hope: Perspectives from peer counselors and peer counseling recipients [article]. Aids Patient Care and STDS, 21(11), 843–859.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Harris, G. E., & Larsen, D. (2008). Understanding hope in the face of an HIV diagnosis and high-risk behaviors [article]. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(3), 401–415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hays, R. B., Turner, H., & Coates, T. J. (1992). Social support, aids-related symptoms, and depression among gay men [article]. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(3), 463–469.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Heinrich, C. R. (2003). Enhancing the perceived health of HIV seropositive men [article]. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25(4), 367–382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Herth, K. (1990). Fostering hope in terminally-ill people [review]. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15(11), 1250–1259.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hirabayashi, N., Fukunishi, I., Kojima, K., Kiso, T., Yamashita, Y., Fukutake, K., et al. (2002). Psychosocial factors associated with quality of life in Japanese patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Psychosomatics, 43(1), 16–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ichikawa, M., & Natpratan, C. (2006). Perceived social environment and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in northern Thailand [article]. Aids Care-Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of Aids/Hiv, 18(2), 128–132.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jia, H. G., Uphold, C. R., Wu, S., Reid, K., Findley, K., & Duncan, P. W. (2004). Health-related quality of life among men with HIV infection: Effects of social support, coping, and depression [article]. Aids Patient Care and STDS, 18(10), 594–603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Karki, S. (2008). HIV/Aids situation in Nepal: Transition to women (Master thesis), Linkoping University, Sweden.

  31. Klein, K., Armistead, L., Devine, D., Kotchick, B., Forehand, R., Morse, E., et al. (2000). Socioemotional support in African American families coping with maternal HIV: An examination of mothers’ and children’s psychosocial adjustment [article]. Behavior Therapy, 31(1), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Koopman, C., Gore-Felton, C., Marouf, F., Butler, L. D., Field, N., Gill, M., et al. (2000). Relationships of perceived stress to coping, attachment and social support among HIV-positive persons [article]. Aids Care-Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of Aids/Hiv, 12(5), 663–672.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kucera, K. A. (1998). Case management of the HIV/AIDS client [review]. Journal of Case Management, 7(2), 62–66.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kuyken, W., Orley, J., Power, M., Herrman, H., Schofield, H., Murphy, B., et al. (1995). The world health organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): Position paper from the world health organization. Social Science and Medicine, 41(10), 1403–1409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kylma, J. (2005). Despair and hopelessness in the context of HIV: A meta-synthesis on qualitative research findings [article]. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14(7), 813–821.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Kylma, J., Vehvilainen-Julkunen, K., & Lahdevirta, J. (2003). Dynamics of hope in HIV/AIDS affected people: An exploration of significant others’ experiences. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 17(3), 191–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Leserman, J., Perkins, D. O., & Evans, D. L. (1992). Coping with the threat of AIDS: The role of social support. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149(11), 1514–1520.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Miller, J. F. (1989). Hope-inspiring strategies of the critically ill. Applied Nursing Research, 2(1), 23–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Nama, S. L., Fielding, K., Avalos, A., Dickinson, D., Gaolathe, T., & Geissler, P. W. (2008). The relationship of acceptance or denial of HIV-status to antiretroviral adherence among adult HIV patients in urban Botswana (vol 67, pg 301, 2008). Social Science and Medicine, 67(11), 1934.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Ncama, B. P., McInerney, P. A., Bhengu, B. R., Corless, I. B., Wantland, D. J., Nicholas, P. K., et al. (2008). Social support and medication adherence in HIV disease in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa [article]. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(12), 1757–1763.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Nunes, J. A., Raymond, S. J., Nicholas, P. K., Leuner, J. D., & Webster, A. (1995). Social support, quality of life, immune function, and health in persons living with HIV. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 13(2), 174–198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Phillips, K. D., & Sowell, R. L. (2000). Hope and coping in HIV-infected African-American women of reproductive age [research support, non-US gov’t]. Journal of National Black Nurses Association, 11(2), 18–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Rabkin, J. G., Remien, R., Katoff, L., & Williams, J. B. W. (1993). Resilience in adversity among long-term survivors of AIDS. Hospital & Community Psychiatry, 44(2), 162–167.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Rawls, A. W. (1997). Durkheim’s epistemology: The initial critique, 1915–1924. Sociological Quarterly, 38(1), 111–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Remor, E. (2002). Social support and quality of life in the HIV infection [comparative study; english abstract; research support, non-US gov’t]. Atencion Primaria, 30(3), 143–148.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Sarason, I. G., Levine, H. M., Basham, R. B., & Sarason, B. R. (1983). Assessing social support: The social support questionnaire [article]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Saxena, S., Chandiramani, K., & Bhargava, R. (1998). WHOQOL-Hindi: A questionnaire for assessing quality of life in health care settings in India [article]. National Medical Journal of India, 11(4), 160–165.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Shippy, R. A. (2007). Taking care of each other. GMHC Treat Issues, 21(2), 7–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Srisurapanont, M., Sambatmai, S., & Jarusuraisin, N. (2001). HIV-seropositive results, health-related quality of life, and social support: A 24-week prospective study in Thailand [article]. Aids Patient Care and STDS, 15(4), 211–215.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Strine, T. W., Chapman, D. P., Balluz, L., & Mokdad, A. H. (2008). Health-related quality of life and health behaviors by social and emotional support. Their relevance to psychiatry and medicine. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 43(2), 151–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Swindells, S., Mohr, J., Justis, J. C., Berman, S., Squier, C., Wagener, M. M., et al. (1999). Quality of life in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: Impact of social support, coping style and hopelessness [article]. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 10(6), 383–391.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Vaux, A., & Harrison, D. (1985). Support network characteristics associated with support satisfaction and perceived support. American Journal of Community Psychology, 13(3), 245–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Wethington, E., & Kessler, R. C. (1986). Perceived support, received support, and adjustment to stressful life events [article]. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 27(1), 78–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Yang, M.-H., Chen, Y.-M., Kuo, B. I.-T., & Wang, K.-Y. (2003). Quality of life and related factors for people living with HIV/AIDS in Northern Taiwan. The Journal of Nursing Research, 11(3), 217–226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Zich, J., & Temoshok, L. (1987). Perceptions of social support in men with AIDS and ARC-relationship with distress and hardiness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 17(3), 193–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was funded by Nagoya University (Japan) under the Global Practicum Program 2008–2009. I would like to thank all the participants in this study and acknowledge the following contributors to the field survey: Mr. Arun Sah, Mr. kshitij Gartaulla, Mr. Sanjeev Parajuli, Miss Isha K.C, Mr. Madhav Adhikari, and Mrs. Parbata Panday. I also thank Professor Yoshihiko Nishimura and Professor Yoshiaki Nishikawa for their valuable guidance for developing framework for this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Sushil Yadav

Authors
  1. Sushil Yadav
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sushil Yadav.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yadav, S. Perceived social support, hope, and quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS: a case study from Nepal. Qual Life Res 19, 157–166 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9574-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9574-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation