Abstract
Predominantly low-income and African American women from the same
community, HIV-infected (
n
= 100; HIV+) and uninfected
(
n
= 42; HIV−), were assessed on reported gender
roles in sexual and other close relationships—including levels of
self-silencing, unmitigated communion, and sexual relationship power—at a
single recent study visit during 2008–2012. Recent gender roles were
investigated in relation to depressive symptoms and health-related quality of
life assessed both at a single visit during 2008–2012 and averaged over
semiannual visits (for depressive symptoms) and annual visits (for quality of
life) occurring between 1994 and 2012. Compared to HIV− women, HIV+ women
reported significantly higher levels of several aspects of self-silencing,
unmitigated communion, and multi-year averaged depressive symptoms as well as
lower levels of sexual relationship power and recent and multi-year averaged
quality of life. For both HIV+ and HIV− women, higher self-silencing and
unmitigated communion significantly related to recent or multi-year averaged
higher depressive symptoms and lower quality of life. Intervention strategies
designed to increase self-care and self-advocacy in the context of relationships
could potentially minimize depressive symptoms and enhance quality of life in
women with and at risk for HIV.
