Perceived social support affects disease coping among people living with HIV: a study in Tehran, Iran

Objective: To examine potential correlations between perceived social support and disease\udcoping styles among people living with HIV infection at a referral center in Tehran.\udMethods: In an observational study, 112 patients were recruited between April and July 2012.\udAlong with demographic characteristics, availability of tangible, informational, and emotional\udsupport was measured using subscales extracted from the medical outcomes study: social\udsupport survey; disease coping styles were investigated in four groups (problem-focused,\udemotion-focused, engagement-based, and meaning-based). Data were analyzed to examine\udwhether social support subscales predict coping styles.\udResults: Almost 70% of the patients were male, and 52% reported sexual contact as their\udperceived route of infection. Use of coping styles was positively correlated with social\udsupport scores (rs = 0.53, P < 0.001), and informational support had significant influence on\udimplementation of three out of the four coping styles (emotion-focused, problem-focused,\udengagement-based). Being married and not reporting the route of infection were associated\udwith higher social support scores; monthly income and level of education had significant\udassociations with the use of various coping styles.\udConclusions: Patients who implement strategies to cope with HIV/AIDS have received more\udinformational and emotional support. This study recommends that the delivery of informational\udsupport in a comprehensive package can practically target the current demands of our patients;\udwhile thorough investigation of potential effects on disease coping, response to treatment, and\udcompliance can aid us in the design of interventions to target stigma at societal level