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. 2022 May 20;9(3):313-320.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.05.001. eCollection 2022 Jul.

The relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life among men who have sex with men living with human immunodeficiency virus: A cross-sectional study

Chang Gao  1 , Xueling Xiao  1 , Li Zhang  2 , Hehua Xu  3 , Min Wang  4 , Honghong Wang  1
Affiliations

The relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life among men who have sex with men living with human immunodeficiency virus: A cross-sectional study

Chang Gao et al. Int J Nurs Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life (QOL), and factors associated with acceptance of illness among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods: Three hundred and one MSM were recruited from an HIV clinic between August and December 2018. The battery of measurements consisted of the Acceptance of Illness Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV brief version, HIV Cognitive Appraisal Scale and a self-designed questionnaire used to collect general information. Pearson correlation test was used to examine the relationship between acceptance of illness and QOL. Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether the general data (demographic and HIV-related clinical data) and HIV cognitive appraisal were associated with acceptance of illness levels.

Results: Descriptive analysis showed the acceptance level among MSM living with HIV was moderate (Mean = 26.29, SD = 5.28). Those with a better acceptance of illness had a better QOL (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). In the multivariate ordinal logistic regression model, education level, threat appraisals (OR:1.09; 95%CI [1.06-1.13]), and controllability appraisals (OR: 0.82; 95%CI [0.71-0.94]) were significantly associated with acceptance of illness.

Conclusions: Results showed acceptance level was moderate and had a positive correlation with QOL. High level of education, low threat appraisals and high controllability appraisals were related to high illness acceptance. This finding highlights the importance of focusing on HIV-infected MSM with low education and on their perceptions of threat and controllability about HIV-related issues when designing interventions to promote illness acceptance in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: Acceptance of illness; Cognitive appraisal; HIV infections; Male homosexuality; Quality of life; Sexual and gender minorities; Vulnerable populations.

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Fig. 1
The framework of acceptance of illness, cognitive appraisals and quality of life.
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