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Cited by 36Poverty, Education, and Child WelfareGrief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthChild Welfare and Adoption

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 31 of the 31 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Social support as a protective factor for children impacted by HIV/AIDS across varying living environments in southern Africa

Open access
Barenbaum, Edna, Smith, Tamarah·2016·AIDS Care
DOI 10.1080/09540121.2016.1176683PMC PMC4991218
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Abstract

The literature on the psychological well-being of children impacted by HIV/AIDS in Africa highlights increased vulnerability due to loss of parents and environmental stressors (e.g., hunger). Research shows that the lack of attachment and social support due to loss limits the grieving process in children. Access to trusting adults and social support through caregivers can be an important protective factor to allow for coping and better emotional adjustment in the future. This study examined social support systems across varying living environments to determine if social support promoted higher levels of well-being in children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. The participants included 100 children from a small targeted population in southern Africa who receive varying levels of support from a private not-for-profit organization. Children's well-being was assessed through the Psycho-Social Adjustment Scale-Adolescents developed specifically for vulnerable child populations in Africa. Children were individually interviewed either on their homestead, school or hostel. Data demonstrated that children who do not share their feelings had significantly lower measures of positive well-being (M = 2.61 (0.87) vs. M = 3.10 (0.57), d = 0.60). Children with trusted adults were significantly more likely to share their feelings and had lower incidence of hunger (49.1% vs. 62.5%), suicide ideation (15.1% vs. 62.5%) and witnessing violence (69.8% vs. 87.5%). Sharing feelings with caregivers was more pronounced among children who had greater access to trusted adults and correlated with stronger attachment scores (r = .30, p < .01). An important component to decrease levels of anxiety and depression in this vulnerable population is providing access to trusted individuals. Social support interventions are discussed.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Bowlby J., 1982, Attachment
  2. Fraley C., 1999, Handbook of attachment theory and research, 735
  3. Sachs S. E., 2004, Lancet, 364, 1

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Metadata

Authors
Barenbaum, E., & Smith, T.
Affiliations
Cabrini University (US)
Corresponding author
Smith, Tamarah
ORCID
Smith, Tamarah
Venue
AIDS Care
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2016-05-26
Volume
28
Issue
sup2
Pages
92-99
ISSN
  • 0954-0121 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0451
DOI
10.1080/09540121.2016.1176683
PMC
PMC4991218
OpenAlex
W2462088813
Cited by
35
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
5.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • AIDS Care (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Development › Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Child Welfare and Adoption
Keywords
social support, children affected by HIV, orphans, child well-being, psychological adjustment, attachment, trusted adults, caregiver support, suicidal ideation, witnessing violence, hunger, living environment, social support interventions, Southern Africa
MeSH terms
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Africa, Southern, Anxiety, Child, Depression, Female, Food Supply, Humans, Male, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, HIV Infections, Caregivers, Trust, Vulnerable Populations, Child, Orphaned, Protective Factors

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