Psychological Variables and Adherence Among HIV Persons: Evaluation Based on Length of Infection

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the influence of psychological variables on antiretroviral treatment adherence behaviors, based on length of infection in months. Participants included ninety-three HIV-positive persons, who answered two self-administered questionnaires: 1) Psychological variables and adherence behaviors. and 2) Stress-related situations. Three consecutive statistical testing procedures were applied or data analysis: Pearson's chi-square, Mann-Whitney U. and multiple regressions. Regression analyses found psychological variables influencing adherence behaviors in different ways based on length of infection: in the group of persons with 42 months, psychological predictors were a good motivation. an optimal competential performance and low stress-related with tolerance to frustration, whereas in the group of persons with 43 or more months predictors were a good motivation and low stress-related with decision-making. Results strongly support the tenet that length of infection is a critical variable related to psychological variables influencing adherence behaviors among HIV-positive persons under antiretroviral treatment.