Perceived social support and psychosocial distress among HIV/AIDS-affected orphaned children and adolescents in institutional care: the moderating role of hope about the future

The present study examined the associations among perceived social support, hope about the future, and psychosocial distress, with particular attention to the moderating role of hope. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 116 HIV/AIDS orphaned children and adolescents living in institutional care facilities in India. Data were collected using culturally adapted measures of perceived social support, hope about the future, and psychosocial distress. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results indicated that perceived social support and hope about the future were significantly associated with lower psychosocial distress, whereas hope was positively associated with perceived social support. The interaction between perceived social support and hope about the future was statistically significant, indicating that the association between perceived social support and psychosocial distress differed across levels of hope. These results help in understanding the interplay of social and psychological factors associated with psychosocial adjustment among HIV/AIDS-affected orphaned children and adolescents in institutional care settings.