Uwiringiyimana A, Niyonsenga J, Lisette KG, Bugenimana A, Mutabaruka J, Nshimiyimana A. Depression symptoms and suicidal ideation among HIV infected Rwandans: the mediating and moderating effects of complicated grief and substance abuse.
AIDS Res Ther 2024;
21:38. [PMID:
38844952 PMCID:
PMC11157700 DOI:
10.1186/s12981-024-00628-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
People with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) have 7-36 times greater risk for completed suicide associated with depression symptoms compared to general population. However, no study has sufficiently analyzed the mediating or moderating variables of the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in Rwanda.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine how complicated grief mediates and substance abuse moderates the effects of depression symptoms on suicidal ideation.
METHODS
Data were collected from a convenient sample of 140 participants (M-age = 38.79 years, SD = 10.218) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Remera Health Center in a cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression and Sobel test were used to examine the relationships between depression symptoms, complicated grief, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.
RESULTS
The results indicated that 29% of the sample had clinically significant symptoms of depression and 18% had suicidal ideation. The interaction between substance abuse and depression symptoms (β = .468, t = 8.02, p = 0.000) was a significant predictor, explaining the 55.7% of variance in suicidal ideation. Furthermore, the Sobel test demonstrated that complicated grief mediated the effects of depression symptoms (t = 4.67, SE = 0.0101, p ≤ 0.001) on suicidal ideation.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that depression symptoms are associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, and this risk significantly amplified in the presence of complicated grief and substance abuse. These findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health services, particularly those addressing depression, complicated grief, and substance abuse, into HIV care programs to mitigate the risk of suicidal ideation among PWHA.
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