Exploring social and environmental mechanisms as predictors of mental health among young adults with perinatal HIV infection and exposure.

Greater family support at Time 1 was associated with lower odds of any psychiatric disorder at Time 2.

• Sample included 197 young adults affected by HIV (62% YAPHIV; 38% YAPHEU)
• Time 1 mean age was 22.9 years; Time 2 mean age was 24.1 years
• Logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of psychiatric disorders
• The association was consistent across any psychiatric disorder as well as specifically anxiety and mood disorders

Greater family organization at Time 1 was associated with lower odds of any psychiatric disorder, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders at Time 2.

• Family organization was measured at Time 1 and outcomes assessed at Time 2
• The association held for any psychiatric disorder as well as specifically for anxiety and mood disorder subcategories
• This finding was observed in the overall sample across both YAPHIV and YAPHEU participants

Among YAPHEU participants only, higher family organization was associated with lower odds of anxiety disorders.

• YAPHEU participants comprised 38% of the sample (approximately 75 individuals)
• This subgroup-specific finding was not observed among YAPHIV participants
• The finding suggests that specific family dimensions may differentially affect mental health depending on HIV infection status

Stress was not significantly associated with mental health outcomes in this sample.

• Life stressors were examined as a predictor of psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety
• No significant association between stress and mental health outcomes was found in logistic regression analyses
• This finding applied across the full sample of 197 young adults

Family support and friend support did not significantly moderate the association between stress and mental health outcomes.

• Moderation analyses were conducted to test whether family relationships and friend support buffered the impact of stress on mental health
• Neither family support, family organization, nor friend support moderated the stress-mental health association
• This null moderation finding applied across both YAPHIV and YAPHEU participants

The study population consisted of young adults perinatally affected by HIV transitioning to adulthood, with a majority living with HIV.

• Total sample size was 197 young adults
• 62% were YAPHIV (perinatally acquired HIV) and 38% were YAPHEU (perinatally exposed but uninfected)
• Data were drawn from two longitudinal assessment points approximately 1.2 years apart (mean ages 22.9 and 24.1 years)
• The study was conducted in the United States