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McCuin, Tara M.

Psychology

2014

PhD

Theory stemming from existential psychology suggests that living with a disease like HIV would result in a confrontation with existential givens such as death, isolation, and meaning that could result in profound psychological distress (Yalom, 1980). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of existential isolation (EI), loneliness, and HIV-related stigma to psychological symptoms (depression and anxiety) among adults living with HIV. The model tested included loneliness as a mediator of the association between EI and psychological symptoms and perceived HIV-related stigma as a moderator of both the EI-loneliness relation and the loneliness - psychological symptoms relation.
Results demonstrated that EI was related to loneliness, anxiety and depression. Loneliness partially mediated the relationship between EI and anxiety and depression. Perceptions of HIV-related stigma, although correlated with both loneliness and psychological symptoms, failed to moderate the relationship between EI and loneliness or loneliness and psychological symptoms. Findings are important for understanding the impact of existential concerns on the psychological functioning of people with HIV. Directions for future research are discussed, and implications for treatment are explored.