Effect of Mental Health, Coping Mechanisms and Stigma on Risky Behaviors in HIV Positive Patients in Iran - a Cross-Sectional Study

Unfortunately, during the past years an increase in HIV infection is reported, especially through high-risk sexual relations. In this study, the effect of stigma, mental health and coping mechanisms on risky behaviors in HIV-positive patients were examined.
This study is a cross-sectional study. Using convienient sampling method 450 HIV-positive patients were enrolled from Behavioral and Infectious Disease Clinic in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. The data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Berger Scale Stigma, General Health-28 Questionnaire, and Lazarus coping strategies questionnaire (WOCQ). The data were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA and regression.
Mental health, stigma and coping mechanisms of problem solving were associated with risky behaviors (p Psychological interventions may be effective in improving mental health and reducing risk behaviors.