Effects of a four-week aerobic exercise programme on depression, anxiety and general self-efficacy in people living with HIV on highly active anti-retroviral therapy

ABSTRACT

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern. Depression, anxiety and reduced self-efficacy are common psychological problems experienced by people living with HIV. We investigated the effects of a four-week, supervised aerobic exercise programme on depression, anxiety and self-efficacy of people living with HIV on HAART in Ibadan, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was used. Fifty-three eligible participants completed the study and only their data were analysed. The experimental subjects received aerobic exercise training for thirty minutes, three times per week for four weeks, alongside HAART, while control subjects were only on HAART. Depression, anxiety and self-efficacy scores were assessed at baseline and after the fourth week. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to summarise data, and inferential statistics of independent t-test was used to compare data between groups. At the end of the aerobic exercise programme, there was significant improvement in depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001) and self-efficacy scores (p = 0.042) in the experimental group, compared to the control group. More attention should be given to the prevention and management of psychological problems in people living with HIV through the use of aerobic exercise.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Highly active anti-retroviral therapy
• HIV
• Nigeria
• Self-efficacy

Acknowledgements

We thank all the people living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria who consented as participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).