Professionally Moderated, Psychoeducational, Web-Based Support for Women Living with HIV: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Women living with HIV (WLWH) face stress and stigma due to their HIV status, and web-based support groups may provide a beneficial means for connection and education. This paper presents an exploratory study examining the feasibility and potential benefits of a professionally moderated, psychoeducational, web-based support group for WLWH. Ten women participated and the average number of weekly posts was 13.38. Active participants were more likely to be White and have a history of suicidality/self-harm. Findings suggest that future implementations may lead to improvements in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic growth. Results substantiate prior research and provide a foundation for future interventions.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• program evaluation
• psychoeducation
• social support
• women’s health
• web-based interventions

Note

Notes

1 Wilcoxon signed rank test analysis revealed a significant difference between pre-assessment (Median = 13.50, SD = 7.89) and post-assessment scores (Mdn = 10.00, SD = 9.53) on the HADS, Z = −2.12, p = .03, with a large effect size of d = .75. A significant difference was also found on the PGI between the pre-assessment (Mdn = 51.00, SD = 34.77) and post-assessment scores (Mdn = 64.00, SD = 27.79), Z = −2.38, p = .02, with a large effect size of d = .84. A medium effect size (d = .41) was found for the change between the pre-assessment (Mdn = 17.50, SD = 2.77) and post-assessment (Mdn = 17.50, SD = 2.05) on the Safer-Sex Efficacy Scale, Z = −1.16, p = .25. There appeared to be slight improvement between pre- (Mdn = 99.50, SD = 23.69) and post-assessment scores (Mdn = 94.50, SD = 25.19) on the HSS, pre- (Mdn = 18.50, SD = 22.45) and post-assessment scores (Mdn = 11.00, SD = 25.17) on the PCL, and pre- (Mdn = 64.50, SD = 17.47) and post-assessment scores (Mdn = 67.50, SD = 19.52) on the MOS Social Support Survey. Although medium effect sizes were found for reported improvements on the HSS (d = .35) and the MOS Social Support Survey (d = .34), none of these changes were found to be significant.