Mental Health and Quality of Life in Youth with HIV/AIDS
Summary
Youth living with HIV/AIDS face a complex interplay of psychological, social and physical challenges that shape their quality of life. The experience of chronic infection during adolescence—a period of rapid emotional and cognitive development—can precipitate anxiety, depression and social isolation. Factors such as stigma, interrupted schooling, family loss and poverty exacerbate mental health burdens and undermine adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Conversely, supportive peer networks, adolescent-friendly health services and resilience-building interventions can foster coping strategies, enhance self-efficacy and improve overall well-being. A holistic approach, integrating mental health screening into routine care and engaging schools, families and community structures, is essential to promote positive developmental trajectories and sustainable health outcomes.
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Mental Health and Quality of Life in Youth with HIV/AIDS publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mental health and quality of life in youth with hiv/aids across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Antiretroviral therapy (ART): A regimen of medications that suppress HIV replication, preserve immune function and reduce morbidity.
Internalised stigma: The process by which individuals absorb negative societal attitudes towards HIV, leading to self-blame and diminished self-worth.
Resilience: The capacity to adapt positively to adversity, encompassing emotional regulation, social support utilisation and problem-solving skills.
Quality of life (QoL): A multidimensional concept reflecting physical health, psychological state, social relationships and environmental context.
Socioecological framework: An analytical model that examines how individual, interpersonal, community and societal factors interact to influence health outcomes.
References
- Opportunities for building lifelong resilience and improving mental health for adolescents living with HIV. Journal of the International AIDS Society (2024).
- Psychosocial and mental health challenges facing perinatally HIV-infected adolescents along the Kenyan coast: a qualitative inquiry using the socioecological model. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).
- Experiences and effects of HIV-related stigma among youth living with HIV/AIDS in Western Uganda: A photovoice study. PLOS ONE (2020).
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