The Authors’ Own Words: Psychosocial Stressors and Alcohol Use, Severity, and Treatment Receipt across HIV Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Residents

The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Psychosocial Stressors and Alcohol Use, Severity, and Treatment Receipt across HIV Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Residents

Emily C. Williams, PhD, MPH; Young Sun Joo, MSW; Lauren Lipira, MSW; & Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSW

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 3, 2017

“Alcohol use is harmful for persons living with HIV (PLWH) and its use, severity, and treatment may vary across HIV status. Because HIV disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, PLWH may have greater exposure to psychosocial stressors than those without HIV, which may increase alcohol use and serve as barriers to alcohol treatment receipt. This study, conducted in a large nationally-representative sample of U.S. residents, describes psychosocial stressors, and alcohol use, symptom severity, and treatment receipt for PLWH and those without HIV, and assess whether psychosocial stressors mediate differences in alcohol use and treatment receipt across HIV status. PLWH were more likely than those without HIV to experience discrimination and had higher levels of perceived stress than those without HIV, but did not differ regarding alcohol-related stigma. PLWH were less likely to use alcohol and had similar rates of heavy drinking relative to participants without HIV, but alcohol symptom severity and treatment receipt were greater among PLWH. Perceived stress mediated associations; experiencing discrimination did not. Results further highlight PLWH as a population that is particularly vulnerable to experiences of stress and certain adverse alcohol-related outcomes and suggest a need for future longitudinal research.”