RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS AMONG HIV TESTED AND NON-TESTED INJECTING DRUG USERS

Abstract

Present study was aimed of investigating the relationship between perceived social support, quality of life, depression, and anxiety among HIV Positive, HIV negative and HIV Non tested injecting drug users (IDUs). Sample was composed of HIV positive IDUs (n = 40), HIV negative IDUs (n = 40) and HIV never tested IDUs (n = 40). Urdu versions of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS: Zimet et al., 1988), WHOQOLBREF (WHOQOL, Group), and two subscales of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS: Lovibond, 1995) were used in the present study. Results indicated that social support was positively correlated with quality of life, whereas perceived social support and quality of life were negatively correlated with anxiety and depression among injecting drug users (IDUs). Regression analyses yielded quality of life and social support as significant negative predictors of depression and anxiety among IDUs. Moreover, present study explored differences between HIV infected IDUs, HIV non-infected IDUs and HIV never tested IDUs on perceived social support, quality of life, depression and anxiety. Limitation, Suggestions and practical implications of the present study have also been discussed.