RESEARCH PAPER
Quality of life and its association with anxiety, depression, and social support among people living with HIV in Calabar, Nigeria
1
Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
2
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
3
University of Calabar, Nigeria
4
Department of Clinical Services, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
5
Department of Internal Medicine, Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
Submission date: 2023-07-24
Final revision date: 2023-08-27
Acceptance date: 2023-10-08
Publication date: 2026-06-10
Corresponding author
Emmanuel Aniekan Essien
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Pl, Saskatoon, Canada
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Pl, Saskatoon, Canada
HIV & AIDS Review 2026;25(2):157-162
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a chronic disease associated with psycho-social risks, including stigma and poor mental health. Concurrently, these can have a substantial impact on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of QoL among persons living with HIV, and to assess its association with depression, anxiety, and social support.
Material and methods:
This was a cross-sectional study among 209 respondents receiving care from HIV clinic of General Hospital, Calabar. Socio-demographic questionnaire, World Health Organization QoL in HIV – BREF (WHOQOL HIV-BREF), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and Oslo social support scale (OSSS-3), were administered to consenting clinic attendees. Alpha level for bivariate analysis was set at 0.05.
Results:
QoL was lowest in independence domain and highest in spirituality domain. Patients with at least secondary education and those with employment had a significantly better QoL (p < 0.05). All QoL domains showed significant negative correlations with both anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.05), while physical, psychological, environmental, and spirituality fields had substantial positive correlations with social support (p < 0.05). After linear regression, anxiety (β = –0.31; 95% CI: –1.37 to –0.62), depression (β = –0.46; 95% CI: –1.85 to –1.10), and unemployment (β = –0.10; 95% CI: –6.20 to –0.26), predicted QoL.
Conclusions:
Anxiety and depression reduce the QoL of people living with HIV. Social support, on the other hand, might be a protective factor. More research is needed to establish causal relationships.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a chronic disease associated with psycho-social risks, including stigma and poor mental health. Concurrently, these can have a substantial impact on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of QoL among persons living with HIV, and to assess its association with depression, anxiety, and social support.
Material and methods:
This was a cross-sectional study among 209 respondents receiving care from HIV clinic of General Hospital, Calabar. Socio-demographic questionnaire, World Health Organization QoL in HIV – BREF (WHOQOL HIV-BREF), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and Oslo social support scale (OSSS-3), were administered to consenting clinic attendees. Alpha level for bivariate analysis was set at 0.05.
Results:
QoL was lowest in independence domain and highest in spirituality domain. Patients with at least secondary education and those with employment had a significantly better QoL (p < 0.05). All QoL domains showed significant negative correlations with both anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.05), while physical, psychological, environmental, and spirituality fields had substantial positive correlations with social support (p < 0.05). After linear regression, anxiety (β = –0.31; 95% CI: –1.37 to –0.62), depression (β = –0.46; 95% CI: –1.85 to –1.10), and unemployment (β = –0.10; 95% CI: –6.20 to –0.26), predicted QoL.
Conclusions:
Anxiety and depression reduce the QoL of people living with HIV. Social support, on the other hand, might be a protective factor. More research is needed to establish causal relationships.
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