Examining HIV-Related stigma in relation to pain interference and psychological inflexibility among persons living with HIV/AIDS: The role of anxiety sensitivity

Abstract

Pain is highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Although the association between stigma and pain among stigmatized individuals has been well-established in the non- HIV chronic pain literature, little is known about the association between stigma and pain among PLHIV and the mechanisms that underlie this association. The present study examined the indirect effect of HIV stigma and pain via anxiety sensitivity (fear of anxiety symptoms). The sample included 97 PLHIV (60.2% male, Mage = 48.40, SD = 7.75). Results indicated significant and medium-sized indirect effects of HIV stigma on pain severity, pain interference, and psychological inflexibility in pain via anxiety sensitivity. Alternative models did not yield significant indirect effects. The results suggest anxiety sensitivity may explain the association between stigma and pain among PLHIV. These findings provide novel empirical insight into the nature of stigma-pain relation among PLHIV and could be used to guide pain-based intervention development for this population.

Keywords: HIV; anxiety sensitivity; pain interference; psychological inflexibility; stigma.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Proposed model examining the indirect association of HIV stigma via anxiety sensitivity in relation to pain severity, pain interference, and psychological inflexibility in pain.