Value of perceived support on depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking among underserved HIV+ adults 50 and older

ABSTRACT

The current study examined the association between perceived social support, depressive symptoms and alcohol use among people living with HIV (PLWH) 50 and older who identified as Black. Participants included 96 men and women ages 50 and older. Participants completed an interviewer-administered assessment examining mental and behavioral health functioning. Mediation analyses examined whether perceived support mediated the association between depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with hazardous drinking (B = .068, SE = .035, t = 1.92, p = 0.05) and negatively associated with having the desired amount of contact with a primary supporter (B = −.072, SE = .018, z = −3.96, p < 0.001). In addition, having the desired amount of contact with a confidant was negatively associated with hazardous drinking (B = −.543, SE = .208, t = −2.61, p 0 < .01). The effect of depressive symptoms on hazardous drinking when controlling for having adequate contact with a primary supporter was not significant (B = .033, SE = .04, t = .829, p = 0.41). Having a valued confidant mediated the association between depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking. Thus, social support interventions may be an effective method of reducing hazardous drinking among older PLWH.

KEYWORDS:

• Perceived support
• HIV
• depressive symptoms & hazardous drinking

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) under grant number R25MH080665 and the National Institute on Drug Abuse under grant number K23039769-01