Internalized HIV stigma is prevalent and research on internalized HIV stigma has increased during the past 10 years. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize research on internalized HIV stigma and relationships with various health-related variables in order to better inform the development of interventions aimed at reducing internalized HIV stigma. We reviewed 176 studies with a quantitative design reporting correlates that were peer-reviewed, published in English before January 2021, drawn from PubMed, PSYCHINFO, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Scopus. Synthesis showed consistent associations between internalized stigma and negative psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety), social (e.g., lack of social support, discrimination, nondisclosure, and intersecting stigmas), and health (e.g., substance use, treatment nonadherence, negative clinical HIV outcomes) variables. We argue for a more socioecological approach to internalized stigma, with greater attention for intersectional stigmas, and more longitudinal research, if we are to effectively develop interventions that reduce internalized stigma.
Keyphrases
- hiv aids
- social support
- antiretroviral therapy
- mental health
- hiv positive
- hiv infected
- human immunodeficiency virus
- systematic review
- mental illness
- hiv testing
- depressive symptoms
- hepatitis c virus
- men who have sex with men
- healthcare
- public health
- meta analyses
- emergency department
- sleep quality
- randomized controlled trial
- working memory
- skeletal muscle
- metabolic syndrome
- mass spectrometry
- adipose tissue
- social media
- smoking cessation
- health information