INTERCONNECTION OF MEANING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE, SENSE OF BELONGING AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

Q: What psychosocial factors were studied in older people living with HIV?

The study focused on meaning and purpose in life, sense of belonging, and social engagement as protective psychosocial factors for mental health outcomes.

Q: How was the study conducted and with whom?

Hierarchical regression analyses used items from the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness and Spirituality scale in older PWH (n=349, age 50–84) from the ROAH 2.0 study.

Q: What relationships were found between belonging, life purpose, and social engagement?

Lower loneliness, fewer depressive symptoms, fewer chronic conditions, and higher social and media-based activity were significantly associated with stronger sense of belonging and higher meaning and purpose in life.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

People living with HIV (PWH) continue to face health, social, and structural vulnerabilities despite HIV/AIDS treatment advances. Psychosocial factors such as meaning and purpose in life, sense of belonging, and social engagement are linked to better mental health and well-being. Using ROAH 2.0 data from older PWH (n=349, age 50–84), hierarchical regressions examined associations among loneliness, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions, and social/media engagement with belonging and life purpose.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study objective and population

Measures and analytic approach

Key findings

Implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 151 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.503 INTERCONNECTION OF MEANING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE, SENSE OF BELONGING AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV Atami De Main1, Marshall J. Glesby1, Carrie Johnston1, Mark Brennan Ing2, and Eugenia L Siegler1, 1. Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States, 2. Hunter College, New York, New York, United States Despite advancements in medical treatment for HIV/AIDS, people living with HIV (PWH) still encounter health, social and structural vulnerabilities. Understanding factors that contribute to PWH’s mental health and well-being become increasingly important. Psychosocial factors—meaning and purpose in life, sense of belonging and social engagement—play a protective role against negative health outcomes. Our study aimed to examine the associations among these factors, using items from the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness and Spirituality scale, in older PWH (n=349, age range=50-84) from the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH 2.0) study at the Weill Cornell Campus in New York City. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that lower levels of loneliness, fewer depressive symptoms, lower number of chronic conditions and higher engagement in social activities and media-based activities were significantly associated with strong general sense of belonging in older PWH (R2adj=0.34, F(10, 269) = 15.61, p<.001), strong feelings of being part of a community (R2adj=0.35, F(10, 262)= 15.56, p<.001) and high meaning and purpose in life (R2adj=0.34, F(9, 281) = 17.49, p<.001) . Additionally, PWH experiencing financial strain and those living alone reported lower general sense of belonging (F(6, 286) = 2.99, p<.001, feelings of being part of a community F(6, 280) = 1.91, p<.001) 152 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 and meaning and purpose in life F(5, 297) = 2.50, p = 0.03) . These findings underscore the importance of psychosocial indicators in promoting the mental health and well-being of older PWH and highlight the need for interventions to enhance social and community engagement in this population.

FAQs

What psychosocial factors were studied in older people living with HIV?

The study focused on meaning and purpose in life, sense of belonging, and social engagement as protective psychosocial factors for mental health outcomes.

How was the study conducted and with whom?

Hierarchical regression analyses used items from the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness and Spirituality scale in older PWH (n=349, age 50–84) from the ROAH 2.0 study.

What relationships were found between belonging, life purpose, and social engagement?

Lower loneliness, fewer depressive symptoms, fewer chronic conditions, and higher social and media-based activity were significantly associated with stronger sense of belonging and higher meaning and purpose in life.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle