Depression, self-concept, future expectations and hope of people with HIV

Cross-sectional survey of 108 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, carried out in a reference hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases in Northeast Brazil. The following instruments were employed: sociodemographic data, and questionnaires for ascertaining participants’ emotions, including scales for self-concept, hope, depression (HAMD-D), and future expectations. Descriptive statistics using the following tests were performed: Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square, and t-test—considered significant when p ≤ 0.05.

Results:

31.5% presented mild depression and 21.3% presented moderate depression; 63% reported difficulty in obtaining decent employment; 52.8% considered life a failure; 52.8% felt worthless. Fear, guilt and loneliness influenced self-concept (p ≤ 0.05). Loneliness influenced hope (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion:

It is necessary to raise the attention of nursing professionals and healthcare managers to the importance of providing health services that consider the mental health of people with HIV/AIDS, contributing to treatment adherence and well-being.

Descriptors:
HIV; Emotions; Depression; Self-Concept; Hope

Classification of depression	n	%
Absence of depression	51	47.2
Mild depression	34	31.5
Moderate depression	23	21.3
Severe depression	0	0.0
Total score
Mean	8.34
Standard deviation	5.36
Median	5

Question	CB		PB		NBNG		PG		CG
Question	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Society will be more just and safer.	46	42.6	6	5.6	-	-	28	25.9	28	25.9
People will become even more selfish than they are nowadays.	63	58.3	29	26.9	-	-	11	10.2	5	4.6
People will be happier.	45	41.7	6	5.5	6	5.5	11	10.2	40	37.1
People will be more likely to accomplish their dreams.	40	37.0	-	-	-	-	28	26.0	40	37.0
There will be fewer injustices in the world.	60	55.5	8	7.4	-	-	-	-	40	37.1
The world will be much better.	47	43.5	9	8.4	-	-	5	4.6	47	43.5
I will reach financial independence.	17	15.8	-	-	-	-	6	5.5	85	78.7
I will be professionally fulfilled.	23	21.3	-	-	11	10.2	6	5.5	68	63.0
My family and friends will be proud of me due to my professional success.	23	21.3	-	-	11	10.2	17	15.7	57	52.8
I will be proud of myself for having struggled through life and becoming a winner.	6	5.5	6	5.5	-	-	17	15.7	79	73.3
I will be respected by all for the professional choices I made.	17	15.7	6	5.5	11	10.2	23	21.3	51	47.3
I will have a good job.	34	31.5	-	-	6	5.5	11	10.2	57	52.8
In general things will be worse for me than they are now.	40	37.0	17	15.7	6	5.5	6	5.5	39	36.3
I will have very good health.	28	26.0	-	-	6	5.5	17	15.7	57	52.8
My life will surely be a failure.	57	52.8	11	10.2	-	-	-	-	40	37.0
I will prove that, in the world we live in, putting in much of an effort is of no use.	34	31.5	11	10.2	11	10.2	6	5.5	46	42.6
I will have trouble getting a decent job.	69	63.9	11	10.2	11	10.2	6	5.5	11	10.2
I will have a home of my own.	6	5.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	102	94.5

Item	Strongly disagree		Disagree		Agree		Strongly agree
Item	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
I feel that I have at least as much value as other people.	39	36.1	17	15.7	40	37.0	12	11.2
I think I have several good qualities.	-	-	6	5.5	62	57.5	40	37.0
All things considered, I think I'm a failure.	11	10.2	17	15.7	17	15.7	63	58.4
I think I can do things as optimally as most people.	-	-	57	52.8	40	37.0	11	10.2
I do not think I have much to be proud of.	51	47.3	34	31.5	17	15.7	6	5.5
I have a positive attitude towards myself.	-	-	57	52.8	34	31.5	17	15.7
All in all, I'm pleased with myself.	6	5.5	85	78.8	11	10.2	6	5.5
I wish I had more respect for myself.	17	15.7	6	5.5	57	52.8	28	26.0
Sometimes I feel useless.	17	15.7	34	31.5	57	52.8	-	-
Sometimes I think I'm not good at anything.	11	10.2	17	15.7	17	15.7	63	58.4

Items	SD		D		A		SA
Items	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
1. I am optimistic about life.	-	-	17	15.7	46	42.6	45	41.7
2. I have short and long-term plans.	38	35.2	40	37.0	23	21.3	7	6.5
3. I feel very lonely.	11	10.3	17	15.7	40	37.0	40	37.0
4. I can see possibilities in the midst of difficulties.	-	-	17	15.7	45	41.7	46	42.6
5. I have a faith that comforts me.	-	-	-	-	34	31.5	74	68.5
6. I'm fearful for my future.	57	52.8	34	31.5	17	15.7	-	-
7. I have memories of happy and pleasant times.	-	-	11	10.2	68	63.0	29	26.8
8. I feel very strong.	-	-	51	47.3	46	42.5	11	10.2
9. I feel capable of giving and receiving affection and love.	-	-	23	21.2	51	47.3	34	31.5
10. I know where I want to go.	-	-	28	26.0	46	42.5	34	31.5
11. I believe in the value of each day.	-	-	10	9.3	68	63.0	30	27.7
12. I feel that my life has value and usefulness.	11	10.2	11	10.2	57	52.8	29	26.8

Variables	Test	P	Hypothesis
Future expectations vs. Self-concept	Mann-Whitney	0.412	Future expectation scores are not influenced by self-concept classification.
Fear vs. Depression	Kruskal-Wallis	0.530	Fear has no correlation with the classification of depression.
Guilt vs. Depression	Kruskal-Wallis	0.271	Guilt does not correlate with the classification of depression.
Loneliness vs. Depression	Kruskal-Wallis	0.121	Loneliness does not correlate with the classification of depression.
Fear vs. Self-concept	Chi-square	0.001^* * Indicates statistical significance.	Fear influences self-concept.
Guilt vs. Self-concept	Chi-square	0.001^* * Indicates statistical significance.	Guilt influences self-concept.
Loneliness vs. Self-concept	Chi-square	0.001^* * Indicates statistical significance.	Loneliness influences self-concept.
Fear vs. Future expectations	T-test	0.146	Fear does not influence future expectations.
Guilt vs. Future expectations	T-test	0.011^* * Indicates statistical significance.	Guilt influences future expectations.
Loneliness vs. Future expectations	T-test	0.123	Loneliness does not influence future expectation.
Fear x Hope	T-test	0.224	Fear does not influence hope.
Guilt x Hope	T-test	0.161	Guilt does not influence hope.
Loneliness x Hope	T-test	0.001^* * Indicates statistical significance.	Loneliness influences hope.

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Corresponding Author: Anna Cláudia Freire de Araújo Patrício E-mail: claudia.freirearaujo@gmail.com