A meta-analysis of disclosure of one's HIV-positive status, stigma and social support

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of the relationships among perceived stigma, reported disclosure and perceived social support for those living with HIV. The meta-analytic summary of 21 studies (4104 participants) showed, as predicted, a positive, heterogeneous correlation between disclosure and social support (ŕ=.159), a negative, heterogeneous correlation between stigma and social support (ŕ=−.344) and a negative, homogenous correlation between stigma and disclosure (ŕ=−.189). The heterogeneity of the first two relationships indicates the presence of moderators, which may include participants’ age and publications’ year.

Keywords:

• disclosure
• stigma
• social support
• meta-analysis

Notes

1. To include dissertations helps us to avoid concerns only using peer-reviewed journal articles, in which studies without strong effects often do not make it into publication (i.e. the “file drawer” syndrome). Multiple scholars (e.g. Hunter & Schmidt, 2004) argue that eliminating studies from a meta-analysis, even if they have methodological inadequacies, is not as desirable or reasonable as one might think. Eliminating studies often provides a greater bias than methodological weakness (Hunter & Schmidt, 2004). Hunter and Schmidt (2004) suggest that one should determine if the variation across studies can be accounted for by sampling error before eliminating studies.