Perceived Difficulty of Performing Selected HIV/AIDS Preventive Behaviors and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?

The Relationship between Life Satisfaction and Quality of Life among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kermanshah-West of Iran

Since the late 20th century, identifying the multidimensional nature of HIV/AIDS and its negative effects on mental health and quality of life (QOL) in patients has prompted specialists to identify and control the psychological and behavioural variables resulting from this disorder. Thus, the current study aimed to assessing the relationship between life satisfaction (LS) and QOL among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kermanshah. This descriptive-correlation study was conducted on 364 HIV/AIDS patients referred to the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (VCT) in Kermanshah in 2016-2017, selected by convenience sampling method. Data gathering tools included Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), World Health Organization Quality of Life-HIV Brief (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) questionnaire and demographic checklist. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient varied from 0.70 to 0.83 for the five subscales of WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire. The result showed that out of 364 patients, 38.19% were women. There was a positive correlation between LS and QOL in patients with HIV/AIDS in Kermanshah (p < .001), and LS was associated with the QOL. Furthermore, the results indicated that LS and QOL in patients with HIV/AIDS were at low levels.

Does Initiating Vaginal Sexual Intercourse During a Safer Sex Media Campaign Influence Life Satisfaction Among African American Adolescents?

PURPOSE

Addressing adolescent sexual risk behaviors in the STI/HIV prevention literature is well documented; however, intervention impacts on life satisfaction are relatively unexplored. This study is a secondary analysis of data (N = 1,658) from a randomized, multisite, multilevel safer sex media campaign (Project iMPPACS) analyzing life satisfaction across baseline and follow-up data collected from 2006 to 2008 among participants (mean age 15.08 years) who reported never having had vaginal sex at baseline (n = 787).

METHODS

Participants were separated into groups based on whether they reported having vaginal sex (yes/no) at baseline. Then taking into account the nested study design and controlling for confounders, a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance assessed whether differences in mean total life satisfaction (LS) were associated across time in the media and nonmedia study conditions separately by gender.

RESULTS

A significant interaction between time and media condition was detected (p = .039) where mean total LS increased +.065 units from baseline (M = 5.364) to last contact in media cities and decreased -.084 units from baseline (M = 5.557) to last contact in nonmedia cities when controlling for the effect of initiating vaginal sex. No significant differences in LS at baseline were observed between media and nonmedia intervention cities. Results by gender suggest most positive change in LS was observed for females with mixed findings for males.

CONCLUSIONS

Although Project iMPPACS was not designed with the intent on improving participants' life satisfaction, results advance the LS literature by demonstrating a temporal sequence for sexual risk taking and LS over time.

Neighborhood Stress and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?

This study identified associations between perceived neighborhood stress and adolescents' perceptions of life satisfaction. African American adolescents aged 13-18 (n=1,658) from four matched, mid-sized cities in the northeastern and southeastern USA, completed a self-report questionnaire using an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI). Analyses examined relationships between perceived neighborhood stress and perceived life satisfaction, while controlling for socioeconomic status (SES). Life satisfaction was found to be related to neighborhood stress for both males and females, with variability in neighborhood stress characteristics and in the magnitude of associations by gender. Further research should identify the particular characteristics of youth and specific aspects of adolescent life satisfaction associated with perceived neighborhood stress to develop community-based and culturally-sensitive quality of life improvement/health promotion programs.

Can a Multilevel STI/HIV Prevention Strategy for High Risk African American Adolescents Improve Life Satisfaction?

Addressing adolescent sexual risk behaviors in the STI/HIV prevention literature is well documented; however, impacts from interventions on life satisfaction are relatively unexplored. This study examined data (n = 1658) from a randomized, multi-site, multi-level STI/HIV prevention intervention trial (Project iMPAACS) to determine whether increased protective and reduced sexual risk-taking behaviors associated with STI/HIV would also improve self-reported life satisfaction. Taking into account the nested study design and controlling for confounders, a mixed model ANOVA was performed where Total mean life satisfaction scores were analyzed at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post-recruitment. Significance levels of 0.05 were used to determine significance and η 2 was used to assess effect size. We hypothesized that as intervention participants engaged in the intentional activity associated with increasing protective behaviors and reducing sexual risk-taking behaviors associated with STI/HIV, life satisfaction reports would also improve over the course of the intervention. A significant main effect for sex was detected (F = 5.19, p = .02, η 2 = .03), along with three interactions: between experimental condition and media intervention (F = 7.96, p = .005, η 2= .04); experimental condition, sex, and media intervention (F = 6.51, p = .01, η 2 = .04); and experimental condition, sex, assessment point, and media intervention (F = 3.23, p = .01, η 2 = .02). With the exception of the control condition, female life satisfaction reports improved from baseline assessments to 18-months post-recruitment, whereas male reports decreased. Project iMPPACS was not designed with the intent on improving participants' life satisfaction. However, study results suggest incorporating strategies to address subjective well-being into future adolescent STI/HIV risk-reduction interventions is beneficial for females and additional research is necessary for males.

Is the Brief Multidimensional Student's Life Satisfaction Scale Valid and Reliable for African American Adolescents?

BACKGROUND

Health promotion/education strive to promote healthful conditions that improve quality of life1 based on the perceptions of those whose lives are affected.2-4 Though health promotion/education might have instrumental value in reducing risks for premature morbidity and mortality, their ultimate value lies in contributions to quality of life.1 Life satisfaction (LS) has been defined as an individual's assessment of their quality of life based upon personal criteria5,6 and linked to adolescent health risk behaviors7,8 and developmental assets.9.

PURPOSE

We investigated the psychometrics of the Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale [BMSLSS] with an adolescent sample of African Americans (N=1,658) from four mid-sized cities in the United States (US). Reliability and validity of the BMSLSS has not been determined for samples of exclusively African American adolescents.

METHODS

Data analysis included calculating mean ratings, standard deviations and effect sizes (Cohen's d) and inspecting the scale's internal structure, reliability, and relationships to other variables.

RESULTS

Evidence of internal structure, internal consistency reliability, and hypothesized relationships to other variables for participants were determined.

TRANSLATION TO HEALTH EDUCATION PRACTICE

The BMSLSS is a useful indicator of LS for research and health education assessment purposes among African American adolescents where brevity of psychometric measures is imperative.

The development of an innovative, theory-driven, psychoeducational HIV/STI prevention intervention for heterosexually active black adolescents with mental illnesses

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), continue to disproportionately affect Black adolescents. Those experiencing the psychological sequelae of mental illnesses are at increased risk. Here, we outline the development of an HIV/STI prevention intervention for heterosexually-active Black adolescents with mental illnesses. This research was guided by a psychosocial expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior, nested within a broader social determinants of health framework. A youth community advisory board provided study oversight. Heterosexually-active Black adolescents aged 14 to 17 were recruited from community-based outpatient mental health providers for focus groups, surveys and two "dress rehearsals" of the intervention protocol (N = 68). The qualitative and quantitative findings indicated that knowledge, attitudes and skills related to consistent condom use, reduced number of sexual partners, routine HIV/STI testing, abstinence and emotion regulation were important areas to target. These elicitation data provided insight on the context of HIV/STI risk for the study population, and were used to develop the intervention content. "Project GOLD: We are Kings and Queens" was designed to be delivered over two days (three hours per day), with eight, 45-minute modules. The activities address behaviors, as well as cognitive, emotional, psychological and social processes associated with HIV/STI risk. Alongside evidence-based HIV/STI prevention strategies (e.g., sexual partner communication skills), the intervention activities are rooted in principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dress rehearsal participants were in favor of the intervention and provided feedback on activity length, gender and cultural relevance, and strategies to sustain attention; this information was used to finalize the curriculum. In partnership with the community, we developed a theoretically-driven, gender and culturally relevant, developmentally and psychologically appropriate HIV/STI prevention program. Our ultimate goal is to standardize sexual health assessment and intervention in outpatient mental health treatment settings to meet sexual health needs in this underserved population.