TY - JOUR
T1 - Group Intervention Program to Facilitate Post-Traumatic Growth and Reduce Stigma in HIV
AU - Tomaz Santos, Nuno
AU - Ramos, Catarina
AU - de Almeida, Margarida Ferreira
AU - Leal, Isabel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Background: Research on post-traumatic growth (PTG) and HIV is scarce and the relationship between PTG and stigma is controversial. Group psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate PTG in clinical samples are effective but none exist to simultaneously decrease stigma in the HIV population. The main objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing PTG and decreasing stigma in HIV, as well as to explore relationships between the variables. Methods: Quasi-experimental design with a sample of 42 HIV-positive adults (M = 46.26, SD = 11.90). The experimental group (EG) was subjected to a 9-week group intervention. Instruments: CBI, PTGI-X, PSS-10, HIV stigma, emotional expression, HIV stress indicators, HIV literacy, and skills. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the variables. Results: There was an increase in PTG and a significant decrease in stigma in all domains and subscales in the EG. Compared to the control group, stigma (t(42) = −3.040, p = 0.004) and negative self-image (W = −2.937, p = 0.003) were significant, showing the efficacy of the intervention. Discussion: The intervention demonstrated success in facilitating PTG, attesting that in order to increase PTG, personal strength, and spiritual change, it is necessary to reduce stigma and negative self-image. The research provides more information on group interventions for PTG in HIV, relationships between variables, and population-specific knowledge for professionals.
AB - Background: Research on post-traumatic growth (PTG) and HIV is scarce and the relationship between PTG and stigma is controversial. Group psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate PTG in clinical samples are effective but none exist to simultaneously decrease stigma in the HIV population. The main objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing PTG and decreasing stigma in HIV, as well as to explore relationships between the variables. Methods: Quasi-experimental design with a sample of 42 HIV-positive adults (M = 46.26, SD = 11.90). The experimental group (EG) was subjected to a 9-week group intervention. Instruments: CBI, PTGI-X, PSS-10, HIV stigma, emotional expression, HIV stress indicators, HIV literacy, and skills. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the variables. Results: There was an increase in PTG and a significant decrease in stigma in all domains and subscales in the EG. Compared to the control group, stigma (t(42) = −3.040, p = 0.004) and negative self-image (W = −2.937, p = 0.003) were significant, showing the efficacy of the intervention. Discussion: The intervention demonstrated success in facilitating PTG, attesting that in order to increase PTG, personal strength, and spiritual change, it is necessary to reduce stigma and negative self-image. The research provides more information on group interventions for PTG in HIV, relationships between variables, and population-specific knowledge for professionals.
KW - HIV
KW - post-traumatic growth
KW - psychotherapeutic group intervention
KW - psychotherapeutic group program
KW - stigma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192776370&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/healthcare12090900
DO - 10.3390/healthcare12090900
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85192776370
SN - 2227-9032
VL - 12
JO - Healthcare (Switzerland)
JF - Healthcare (Switzerland)
IS - 9
M1 - 900
ER -