RESEARCH PAPER
Comparison of social support and social network among people living with HIV and general population in Isfahan, Iran
1
Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Health School, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Submission date: 2024-02-14
Final revision date: 2024-06-05
Acceptance date: 2024-06-05
Publication date: 2026-09-25
Corresponding author
Maryam Nasirian
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Health School; and Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Health School; and Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Social support is an important aspect of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), affecting their physical and mental health. Humans receive the most social support from their social networks, characterized as interpersonal social ties. This study aimed to compare social support and social network (its size) among PLHIV and healthy people in Isfahan.
Material and methods:
A case-control study was conducted among 100 PLHIV recruited conveniently and matched with 200 healthy people by random sampling in Isfahan in 2022. Norbeck social support questionnaire and indirect social network size estimation questionnaire were employed. Linear regression in Stata software was used, and significance level of 5% was considered.
Results:
The mean ± SD of social network size in PLHIV (119.98 ± 100.0) was significantly smaller than that of healthy people (161.6 ± 120.3) (p < 0.05). The mean ± SD score of social support in PLHIV (27.7 ± 14.7) was significantly lower than that of healthy people (63.3 ± 33.3) (p < 0.05). In both groups, there was a significant direct correlation between social network size and social support (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The social network size and social support are smaller in PLHIV compared with healthy population. Stigma and discrimination related to HIV seem to be the main causes of these results. Programs aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination toward HIV in Iran are suggested.
Social support is an important aspect of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), affecting their physical and mental health. Humans receive the most social support from their social networks, characterized as interpersonal social ties. This study aimed to compare social support and social network (its size) among PLHIV and healthy people in Isfahan.
Material and methods:
A case-control study was conducted among 100 PLHIV recruited conveniently and matched with 200 healthy people by random sampling in Isfahan in 2022. Norbeck social support questionnaire and indirect social network size estimation questionnaire were employed. Linear regression in Stata software was used, and significance level of 5% was considered.
Results:
The mean ± SD of social network size in PLHIV (119.98 ± 100.0) was significantly smaller than that of healthy people (161.6 ± 120.3) (p < 0.05). The mean ± SD score of social support in PLHIV (27.7 ± 14.7) was significantly lower than that of healthy people (63.3 ± 33.3) (p < 0.05). In both groups, there was a significant direct correlation between social network size and social support (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The social network size and social support are smaller in PLHIV compared with healthy population. Stigma and discrimination related to HIV seem to be the main causes of these results. Programs aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination toward HIV in Iran are suggested.
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