Daily Stress of Teenagers Raised in Families of People Living with HIV

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess and analyze baseline stress of teenagers aged 12-17 years old who were raised in families of people living with HIV (PLH). Data of 206 children from 206 families participating in the project “Family-to-Family: Psychoeducation to Improve Children’s Outcomes in HIV+ Families in Thailand” which was a collaboration between Bureau of Epidemiology, Maechan Hospital and Chiangsan Hospital in Chiangrai, and Pakchong-nana Hospital and Khonburi Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima. The 26 questions adopted from the Everyday Stress Index (ESI-Thai Adolescent Version) were used for data collection. The questions were grouped into three aspects by Factor Analysis method: (1) stress from anxiety, (2) stress from being pressured, and (3) stress from obstacles. It was found that majority of children satisfied with their living place (77.8%), had good relationships with teachers (82.0%) and good relationships with classmates (91.5%). Teenagers raised by HIV positive caregivers had no different stress scores from the ones raised by HIV-negative caregivers. Poor relationship with classmates was positively associated with anxious stress. In addition, poor relationship with teachers was positively associated with obstacle stress. However, living place satisfaction was negatively associated with obstacle stress.