Self-compassion and HIV-related Anxiety Symptoms
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Abstract
Background: Recent research suggests that interventions based on increasing self-compassion hold promise in the search for effective interventions aimed at reducing anxiety symptoms. No studies have examined associations between these concepts in PLHIV.
Purpose: This study is a sub-analysis of an international study (n=1,982) that explored the relationships among self-compassion and HIV treatment outcomes.
Methods: A convenience sample of PLHIV was enrolled from HIV clinics and AIDS service organizations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Namibia, and China from February 2010 to July, 2011. This cross-sectional survey assessed demographics, Anxiety Instrument of the Symptom-90-instruments, the Brief Self-Compassion Index and the Revised Sign and Symptom Checklist (SSC-HIV-rev). Descriptive and multivariate statistics on anxiety prevalence, intensity, and self-compassion were calculated.
Results: Participants’ mean age was 45.1 years (SD 9.4). Gender identity was 1357 male (69%), 599 female (29%), and 40 transgender (2%). Participants´ race was predominantly African American (39%), White/Anglo (22.5%), Hispanic (21%), and Asian (12%). At the time of the study, 53% reported experiencing mild (25%), moderate (17%), or severe (11%) anxiety intensity. Canada had the highest mean anxiety scores (19.2, SD 9.2), followed by Puerto Rico (18.6, SD 10.2), the U.S. (18.6, SD 9.3), China (16.8, SD 9.3), and Namibia (16.1, SD 7.0). Puerto Rico had the highest mean scores on the self compassion index (39.7, SD 6.6), followed by China (38.7, SD 6.6), the U.S. (38.7, SD 9.3), Namibia (38.3, SD 5.2), and Canada (37.3, SD 7.8). Anxiety was significantly and inversely related to self compassion (β = -.410, p >.000). Anxiety remained significantly and inversely related to self-compassion for both males (p>.000) and females (p>.000).
Conclusions: Further investigation of the associations and causal linkages between these two constructs may aid in developing an effective and targeted intervention for addressing anxiety symptoms among PLHIV.
