704 - RESILIENCE AND INTERNALIZED STIGMA AMONG PEOPLE WITH VERTICALLY ACQUIRED HIV IN BRAZIL: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Session: D06S028 - Inequality and Mental Health 1
AUTHORS:
Brandelli Costa Angelo (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul ~ Porto Alegre ~ Brazil) , Weihe Chaves Lara (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul ~ Porto Alegre ~ Brazil) , Penzato Valentina (John Cabot University ~ Rome ~ Italy) , Maccari Renato (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul ~ Porto Alegre ~ Brazil) , Wendt Guilherme (The State University of Western Paraná ~ Francisco Beltrão ~ Brazil)
Abstract text:
Introduction: HIV-related stigma remains a major barrier to health and human rights worldwide, undermining mental health and treatment adherence for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Individuals with vertically acquired HIV are now reaching adulthood, facing unique developmental transitions that shape their experiences with stigma and resilience. This study uses the People Living with HIV Stigma Index data from Brazil two waves (2019-2024) to explore these dynamics in this unique population.


Purpose: This study aimed to (1) quantify age-group differences in resilience and internalized stigma among Brazilian PLHIV with vertical transmission, (2) test the association between resilience and internalized stigma, and (3) integrate qualitative narratives to contextualize quantitative patterns.


Method: We analyzed a vertical-transmission subset (N=99) of the Brazil PLHIV Stigma Index. Age groups were 18-24, 25-29, and 30-40. Measures included the PLHIV Resilience Scale and the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale. We used one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlations for quantitative analyses and thematic analysis for qualitative data from open-ended responses.


Results: Resilience and internalized stigma were inversely correlated, higher resilience associated with lower internalized stigma. Resilience varied significantly by age, showing a U-shaped pattern: highest in the 25-29 group, and lowest at the edges (18-24 and 30-40). Internalized stigma did not differ significantly across age groups, though item-level data showed a majority of the youngest group feeling ashamed and with difficult to communicate serology. Qualitative themes highlighted the role of social support against anticipated stigma, family rejection, and disclosure-related distress.


Conclusions: Older participants grew up during a period of high mortality and limited treatment, while younger individuals face challenges related to identity and disclosure despite biomedical progress. These findings underscore the need for age-sensitive interventions addressing historical and developmental contexts to enhance resilience and reduce stigma.