A Comparative Study among Persons Living with and without Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome on Perceived Social Support, Coping, and Resilience

Abstract Background: HIV weakens the immune system, increasing vulnerability to diseases. In India, prevalence is 0.32% in men and 0.22% in women, with declining cases due to targeted interventions and wider ART access. This study emphasized the need for tailored interventions to enhance resilience and adaptive coping, particularly for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate and compare perceived social support, coping strategies, and resilience between individuals living with HIV/AIDS and those without the condition. The study was a cross-sectional, institution-based comparative analysis conducted in Kolkata. It included 60 young adults with HIV/AIDS receiving treatment from the ART center at IPGME&R SSKM Hospital and 60 individuals without HIV/AIDS, all residents of Kolkata. Results: The findings indicate that perceived social support has no significant link to coping strategies in persons living with HIV/AIDS, while it is moderately correlated with emotion- and problem-focused coping in individuals without HIV. Resilience and social support show a slight positive correlation in persons with HIV/AIDS but a weak negative correlation in individuals without HIV. Across both groups, emotion-focused coping strongly correlates with problem-focused and dysfunctional coping. Resilience is significantly associated with problem-focused coping in persons with HIV/AIDS but has no significant link to coping strategies in individuals without HIV. Conclusion: The study found that persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) are more vulnerable than those without (PLWOH) due to lower social support, higher resilience on maladaptive coping strategies, and the compounded effects of stigma and discrimination.