The Relationship Between Spirituality with Self-esteem and Mental Health in People with Positive HIV referring to the behavioral diseases center of Tabriz city in 1395

Abstract

Objectives: AIDS is among chronic disorders that severely affects the individuals’ physical and mental health. Considering the importance of spirituality in counteracting the stress arising from chronic diseases and accepting the disease, our study aimed to determine the relation spirituality and mental health in HIV positive patients who referred to the Behavioral Disorders Center in Tabriz-Iran. Materials and Methods: A descriptive analytic cross sectional research was conducted on 81 HIV positive patients referring to behavioral disorders center of Tabriz-Iran in 2017 by census method. The instruments used were a three-part questionnaire of socio-demographic information, Parsian and Dunning's spirituality questionnaire, and GHQ-28 mental health status questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out through independent T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean (SD) of the overall mental health score was 36.0 (16.4) from the scores ranging 0-84.Two thirds of the patients suffered from mental health disorder; mean (SD) of overall spirituality score in people suffering from positive HIV was 89.0 (15.3) from the achievable scores ranging 29-116. The relation between the total score of spirituality with overall mental health and it’s all sub- domains was significant (P<0.05). Self-awareness was the only mental health predictor Conclusions: The considerable percent of people with HIV suffer from mental health disorders. Regarding the positive relationship between spirituality and all mental health sub-domains, strengthening spirituality can lead to promotion of mental health in these patients.