Negative centralisation of HIV trauma influences health-related quality of life: Does posttraumatic growth buffer the link?

Objective: Centralisation of trauma associated with diagnosis, progression and treatment of HIV in a negative emotional valence is a mental process that could result in poor health functions and adverse treatment experiences among people living with HIV (PLWH). Design: This study adopts a cross-sectional design. Eight hundred and sixty nine PLWH (male = 478 female = 391 Mean age = 37.37, SD = 10.21) were conveniently drawn from four hospital facilities in the south east, Nigeria. Model 1 of Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro version 3.0 for SPSS was used to test for moderating role of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in the relationship between negative event/trauma centralisation (NEC) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Main outcome measures: NEC, PTG and HRQoL were assessed using negative valence subscale of Centralisation of Event Scale, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form and Patient Reported Outcome Quality of Life-HIV, respectively. It was hypothesised that the PTG will moderate the association between NEC and HRQoL. Results: PTG moderated the association between NEC and HRQoL in the relationship and cognitive health domains. Conclusion: Cognitive-based therapeutic approaches that boost PTG could improve health and wellbeing of PLWH who are having negative appraisal of HIV trauma