- Webel, Allison;
- Wantland, Dean;
- Rose, Carol;
- Kemppainen, Jeanne;
- Holzemer, William;
- Nicholas, Patrice;
- Eller, Lucille;
- Chaiphibalsarisdi, Puangtip;
- Sefcik, Elizabeth;
- Nokes, Kathleen;
- Corless, Inge;
- Tyer-Viola, Lynda;
- Kirksey, Kenn;
- Voss, Joachim;
- Sullivan, Kathy;
- Rivero-Méndez, Marta;
- Brion, John;
- Iipinge, Scholastika;
- Phillips, J;
- Portillo, Carmen;
- Johnson, Mallory;
- Chen, Wei-Ti
CONTEXT: Individual resources of social capital and self-compassion are associated with health behaviors and perceived symptoms, suggesting that both are positive resources that can be modified to improve a persons symptom experience. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to examine the relationship between self-compassion and social capital and its impact on current HIV symptom experience in adult people living with HIV (PLWH). We further explored the impact of age on this relationship. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2182 PLWH at 20 sites in five countries. Social capital, self-compassion, and HIV symptom experience were evaluated using valid and reliable scales. To account for inflated significance associated with a large sample size, we took a random sample of 28% of subjects (n = 615) and conducted correlation analyses and zero-inflated Poisson regression, controlling for known medical and demographic variables impacting HIV symptom experience. RESULTS: Controlling for age, sex at birth, year of HIV diagnosis, comorbid health conditions, employment, and income, our model significantly predicted HIV symptom experience (overall model z = 5.77, P < 0.001). Employment status and social capital were consistent, negative, and significant predictors of HIV symptom experience. Self-compassion did not significantly predict HIV symptom experience. For those reporting symptoms, an increase in age was significantly associated with an increase in symptoms. CONCLUSION: Employment and social capital modestly predicted current HIV symptom experience. Social capital can be incorporated into symptom management interventions, possibly as a way to reframe a persons symptom appraisal. This may be increasingly important as PLWH age. The relationship between employment status and HIV symptom experience was significant and should be explored further.