Journal of Community Health
Volume 43, Issue 6, 2018, Pages 1172-1181

Examining the Associations Between Immigration Status and Perceived Stress Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Women (Article)

Gousse Y.* , Bruno D. , Joseph M.A. , Afable A. , Cohen M.H. , Weber K.M. , Milam J. , Schwartz R.M.
  • a Department of Pharmacy Administration and Public Health, St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439, United States, Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States, STAR Program, Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • b Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States
  • c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States
  • d Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States
  • e Departments of Medicine, Stroger Hospital and Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • f Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Hektoen Institute of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • g Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
  • h Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention (OMEP), Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Great Neck, NY 11021, United States

Abstract

Stress is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes. In the United States (U.S.), little is known about perceived stress and associated factors among HIV-infected and immigrant women. Here, we examine these associations within a sample of 305 HIV-infected and uninfected, U.S.-born and non-U.S.-born women who were part of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) at three sites (New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles). Perceived stress was measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10); HIV infection was serologically confirmed, and nativity status was self-reported. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify associations with perceived stress. The majority of participants were U.S.-born (232, 76.1%) and were HIV-infected (212, 68.5%). Mutlivariable analyses found the odds of perceived stress to be lower for those employed [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.15–0.63)], with high levels of social support (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.79), and HIV-infected (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.24–0.79). Perceived stress was positively associated with living in unstable housing (AOR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.17–5.51). Here, immigration status was not associated with perceived stress. We identified stress to be higher among women who were unemployed, unstably housed, or who had low social support. Community-based programs should tailor interventions to include stress reduction strategies for participants with identified risk factors to improve mental and physical health outcomes. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Perceived stress Women Immigrant Afro-Caribbean HIV Hispanics

Index Keywords

HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection mass screening complication human middle aged comparative study social support ethnology United States Humans migrant psychology Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors women's health adult migration patient attitude Emigration and Immigration Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048780318&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-018-0537-6&partnerID=40&md5=4990844b7f6cb387863d76a322caa103
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-018-0537-6
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English