Perceived Social Support and Psychosocial Distress Among Children Affected by AIDS in China |
| |
Authors: | Yan Hong Xiaoming Li Xiaoyi Fang Guoxiang Zhao Xiuyun Lin Jintao Zhang Junfeng Zhao Liying Zhang |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA;(2) Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA;(3) School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China;(4) Department of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China;(5) State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China |
| |
Abstract: | The psychosocial wellbeing of the children affected by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) receives growing international
attention. However, limited data in this area are available in China, which hosts an estimate of 100,000 AIDS-orphaned children.
The study aims to examine the relationship between perceived social support (PSS) and psychosocial wellbeing among children
affected by AIDS. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,625 children (aged 6–18 years) in Henan Province, an area
with a large number of HIV cases due to unhygienic commercial blood/plasma collection. Our sample included 296 double orphans
(i.e., children who lost both parents to AIDS), 459 single orphans (children who lost one parent to AIDS), 466 vulnerable
children (children living with HIV-infected parents) and 404 comparison children (children who did not experience HIV-related
illness and death in family). Data suggest that vulnerable children reported the lowest level of PSS compared to AIDS orphans
and comparison children. Level of PSS was significantly and positively associated with psychosocial wellbeing even after controlling
for potential confounders. The study underscores the importance of providing social support and mental health services for
children affected by AIDS in China. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|