Religious coping mediates the relationship between stigma and psychological distress among people living with HIV

Stigma is a psychosocial factor often experienced by people living with HIV (PLWHIV), which has been linked with increased distress and poor health-related quality of life. However, studies exploring the mechanisms through which this association occurs are very sparse. This study therefore investigated religious coping as a mediator in the relationship between stigma and psychological distress among PLWHIV in Nigeria. Using convenient sampling method, 202 PLWHIV (95 males, 107 females, Mean age = 36.14, SD = 8.54) managed for HIV were selected from a health facility in Nigeria. Results showed that negative religious coping mediated the relationship between stigma and psychological distress, indicating that stigma was linked with increase in negative religious coping which in turn resulted in increased psychological distress. Positive religious coping did not however mediate the relationship between stigma and psychological distress among PLWHIV. Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that address stigma and deemphasize maladaptive coping strategies aimed at managing stress and improving the psychological well-being among PLWHIV.