Does stigma predict variability in self-esteem? role of stigma on self-esteem of persons living with HIV/AIDS in India

Abstract

Background: Persons living with HIV/AIDS experience high stigma, which limits their access to health-care institutions and treatment, thus affect health and mental health. Stigma is expected to decrease self-esteem; however, no strong evidence is established in scientific literature. The association between stigma and self-esteem in HIV/AIDS context is not well studied, especially in India. Aim: We conducted this study to examine the role of stigma for predicting self-esteem in persons living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: Using a cross-sectional research design, we examined stigma and self-esteem in randomly selected 150 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Palakkad District, South India. The stigma was measured using HIV stigma scale while Rosenberg self-esteem scale was used to measure self-esteem. Multivariate linear regression model was used to test the association of stigma dimensions on self-esteem. Results: The persons living with HIV/AIDS experienced high stigma and low self-esteem. The “personalized stigma” was the strongest predictor which significantly reduced self-esteem (β = −0.706; P < 0.001). The independent variables predicted 56% variance on self-esteem. Overall, the model fit was significant at 0.001 level (F = 47.72). Conclusion: The tested model is useful in understanding various aspects of stigma and its potential role in determining self-esteem of persons living with HIV/AIDS in India.

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS
• self-esteem
• stigma