Advisor(s)
Pariya Wheeler
Michael Crowe
Committee Member(s)
Andres Azuero
David Vance
Olivio Clay
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
9-11-2025
Abstract
Research suggests that people living with HIV (PLWH), an aging chronic health population, have higher prevalence rates and severity of mental health and substance use disorders compared to people living without HIV (PLWoH). Cross-sectional and longitu-dinal studies have suggested intrapersonal resilience factors may serve a protective function in reducing the prevalence and severity of mental health and substance use outcomes among PLWH. The purpose of the current study was two-fold. The first aim was to systematically review the current state of the literature from 2000 to present that examined the associations between intrapersonal resilience factors and mental health outcomes among middle-aged and older PLWH (minimum age 40+ years and mean age 50+ years). Second, as informed through the systematic literature review, various analyses were conducted among a sample of PLWH (N = 174; Mage = 51.30) and PLWoH (N = 105; Mage = 60.10) from the Deep South to assess the associations between intrapersonal resilience factors and mental health and substance use, and determined if race and/or HIV status moderated those associations. The systematic search yielded 15 cross-sectional and/or longitudinal studies, a majority of which indicated a positive association between intrapersonal resilience factors and mental health outcomes, in line with various resilience models and theories among PLWH. Results from the quantitative study indicated significant associations between resilience and self-rated successful aging (SRSA) and mental health and substance use outcomes, such that higher levels of resilience and SRSA were associated with fewer depressive symptoms, not having clinically relevant depressive symptoms, and higher mental health-related quality of life (MHQoL), and higher resilience was associated with testing positive for THC. Mod-eration analyses revealed that the association between SRSA and having clinically relevant depressive symptoms was stronger among PLWoH than PLWH. The findings from this study suggest that intrapersonal resilience factors are protective against depression severity and are associated with better MHQoL, and that SRSA plays a role in lower depression incidence for PLWH and PLWoH alike. Implications for future research and practice are provided.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Delgadillo, Jeremy, "The Association Of Resilience Factors With Mental Health Outcomes Among Middle-Aged And Older People Living With Hiv" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7379.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7379
