Factors associated with resilience among Black women living with HIV and histories of trauma

J Health Psychol. 2021 Apr;26(5):758-766. doi: 10.1177/1359105319840690. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Abstract

In the United States, Black women living with HIV face various individual (e.g. trauma) and structural (e.g. racism) adversities. However, resilience is understudied among Black women living with HIV. A total of 100 Black women living with HIV in the United States completed measures of resilience, general self-efficacy, self-esteem, post-traumatic growth, trauma symptoms, trauma-related cognitions, and depressive symptoms. Regressions controlling for age and education indicated that higher resilience was associated with higher general self-efficacy (β = .39, p < .001), higher self-esteem (β = .48, p < .001), higher post-traumatic growth (β = .34, p < .01), lower post-traumatic cognitions (β = -.36, p < .001), lower trauma symptoms (β = -.29, p < .01), and lower depressive symptoms (β = -.38, p < .001). Our findings suggest potential targets for interventions.

Keywords: Black women; HIV; resilience; self-efficacy; trauma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American
  • Female
  • HIV Infections*
  • Humans
  • Racism*
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Self Concept
  • United States