Parents living with HIV and children's stress and delinquent behaviors in China

Abstract

Objective: The current study aims to explore the association of parents living with HIV (PLHs) and their children's self-esteem, everyday stress, and delinquent behaviors.

Design: The study samples included 79 families with 79 PLHs and 79 children. Methods: Multiple regression analysis was used on baseline data collected in 2009 from a pilot study in Anhui Province, China.

Results: The results indicated that children from a family with both parents infected with HIV or children from families having multiple children were more likely to report a higher level of everyday stress. Male PLHs have significant influence on their children's everyday stress compared with female PLHs. Children reporting a lower level of parental care and lower self-esteem were significantly more likely to report a higher level of delinquent behaviors. In addition, we have found a strong positive correlation between families with multiple children and their children's delinquent behaviors.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that the severity of psychological and behavioral problems of children living in different HIV-affected families may be dependent not only on factors related to the children but also on factors related to their parents and families. Therefore, parental and family level factors should be considered when providing care and support to children living in HIV-affected families.

Keywords:

• children
• stress
• delinquent behaviors
• parental
• HIV/AIDS
• China

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by National Institute of Mental Health grant number R01MH080606. The authors thank the project team members in China for their contributions to this study.