Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Sannisha Dale developed the study hypotheses and procedures for data collection and data analyses. Sherene Samuels drafted the manuscript and ran analyses based on guidance, feedback, and edits provided by Dr. Black women in the U. High self-esteem has been noted as a protective factor and low self-esteem has been linked to mental health diagnoses.
Interventions addressing mental health diagnoses among BWLWH should incorporate strategies to enhance self-esteem. In a study by De Oliveira et al. Another study Machtinger et al. These mental health diagnoses have been associated with decreased HIV medication adherence, detectable viral load, and higher morbidity Dale et al. Nonetheless, there may be protective factors e. Among people living with HIV Bernier et. A study by Robillard, et. Adverse life events ALE include sexual and physical violence, theft, child loss, serious accidents, and natural disasters Weathers et al.
People living with HIV are more likely to have experienced various types of abuse, assault, and violent crimes in their lifetime compared to HIV-negative controls LeGrand et al. Women living with HIV, many of whom are Black, are likely to have experienced some form of abuse in their lifetime, including domestic violence and sexual abuse as children Machtinger et al.
These ALE often have a damaging effect on mental health e. PTSD and self-esteem Sweeney et al. Bernier and colleagues found that among people with HIV, self-esteem was inversely correlated with feelings of loneliness Bernier et al. In a study of Black university students in the United States Munford , depression was related to self-esteem, gender, and race.
Similarly, researchers Versey and Curtin found that self-esteem had a significant effect on depression in that higher self-esteem was associated with lower depression levels among Black women.
